Depicted in the blockbuster film Frida, Frida Kahlo is portrayed as an artist with a past involvement in the Mexican Revolution. Her own physical sufferings, political views, and obsession with painter Diego Rivera greatly influenced her surrealist painting style.

Destined to become one of Mexico’s most famous artists, Frida Kahlo always did whatever she wanted, no matter the societal repercussions or possible future regret. Her father, a German who had immigrated to Mexico, showed her how to fend for herself. It has been revealed that he even taught her how to box and play other sports. But, at the age of six, she had complications with Polio, which left her self-conscious of a slight disability in her right leg.

Frida fell in love and joined a gang while attending art school. At the age of 18, she was involved in an accident that left her with several broken bones, including a broken spinal column that would plague her body with pain for the rest of her life. While rehabilitating, she began painting images that helped her deal with her pain – some quite gory, showing detailed accounts of the many operations she had undergone.

hen she met Mexican artist Diego Rivera, she fell head over heels in love. He was fascinated with her art and introduced her to other members of the high society, which he was a part of. Her later works give way to some of Frida’s personal beliefs. She was an open bisexual, had affairs with many men, and depicted her sexual frustrations in her works. Classes that focus upon women’s contemporary art always include her as a part of their canon. With her open political beliefs and support of communism, she and Rivera had to hide out in Mexico for a time for fear of their own lives. Throughout it all, Frida Kahlo has become not only one of Mexico’s most prominent artists, but a world icon for art that depicts true emotion, pain, and suffering that she shared through her masterpieces.

• Pablo Picasso
• Diego Rivera
• Georgia O’Keeffe