Frida Kahlo was a unique, ingenious Mexican painter. Frida was a Mexican women who was proud of her culture, and fueled world interest in Mexican artwork. Many of Kahlo's paintings are beautiful, one-of-a-kind images that take the viewer on a wonderful journey. So when it came time to select a piece of her artworks, and give a description, it was hard to pick just one. But this one image in particular just grabbed my attention. This exceptional piece of artwork by Kahlo is called The Broken Column.
This painting, by the title of it, sounds dark and ominous, but there is something very beautiful and sad about it. In this painting, Frida is naked and the surface of her skin is punctured with sharp nails. Metal nails pierce her face, breasts, and torso, along with some of her upper thigh, which is hidden. In this illustration she peers to be in a constant state of pain and suffering. Her upper thigh is also cloaked around a white cotton cloth. In the center of her body, there is a missing section of flesh, exposing her spinal column. The column looks shattered or broken, like its on the verge of collapsing into rubble. In this painting, it looks as if Kahlo is being held together by a cloth harness or corset, which envelopes around her upper body. On her face there are luminous tears drops, that flow from her eyes as she stands alone. In the background she seems to be in some sort of wasteland or desert, isolated from the rest of the world. At the view of the horizon its clear of any sign of life or hope.
I found myself infatuated with The Broken Column, because it is so different from anything I have ever seen. The colors used in this artwork are dull and plain, but the way Frida Kahlo used these colors make this image vibrant and full of life. In this particular piece of artwork, you can feel the pain Frida must have felt painting it. Her artwork is so honest and raw, she does not feel the need to censor herself. I really admire that aspect of Kahlo's artwork.
Work Cited
Kahlo, Frida. The Broken Column. 1944. Dolores Olmedo Foundation, Mexico City. ArtyFactory.com. Web. 9 Sept. 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment