Frida Kahlo: Pain, Passion, and Paint

Behind Frida Kahlo's portraits lies the story of both her life and work. It is precisely this combination that draws the reader in. Frida's work is a record of her life, and rarely can we learn so much about an artist from what she records inside the picture frame. Frida Kahlo truly is Mexico's gift to the history of art. She was just eighteen years old when a terrible bus accident changed her life forever, leaving her handicapped and burdened with constant physical pain. But her explosive character, raw determination and hard work helped to shape her artistic talent. At her side was the great Mexican painter and muralist, Diego Rivera, whose obsessive womanising did not stop her winning him over with her charm, talent and intelligence. Kahlo soon learnt to lean on the success of her companion in order to explore the world, thus creating her own legacy and carefully surrounding herself with a close-knit group of friends. Her personal life was turbulent, as she frequently left her relationship with Diego to one side whilst she cultivated her own bisexual affairs. Despite this, Frida and Diego managed to save their frayed romance. The story and the paintings that Frida left us display a courageous account of a woman constantly on a journey of self-discovery.