Master Painter: Frida Kahlo (03:07)

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Kahlo, a Mexican painter now considered a master of the 20th century, began painting while recovering from a bus accident. Her work often reflected Mexican folk art. Kahlo's paintings were often overshadowed by her husband Diego Rivera's fame, but they are now prized. Kahlo was a powerful and charismatic person who had many influential admirers.

An Overview of Kahlo's Family (02:42)

Frida Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Mexico City, Mexico. Kahlo's parents were Guillermo Kahlo and Matilde Calderon. Her father was a Hungarian German Jewish immigrant, and her mother was a native Mexican of Spanish and Indian descent.

Kahlo's Bus Accident (03:35)

Frida Kahlo was in a bus accident that left her with a broken spine, right foot, and right leg. She was left in pain for the rest of her life.

Frida Kahlo's First Paintings (04:54)

Frida Kahlo's early paintings show her keen eye for detail. She traveled to San Francisco and Detroit with her husband, artist Diego Rivera. She made portraits of people she encountered, and portraiture remained an important part of her artistry.

Refined Portraiture (02:26)

Frida Kahlo's work is often associated with the Mexican muralism movement.

Rivera and Kahlo in New York (02:36)

After Detroit, Rivera and Kahlo traveled to New York City, where Rivera had accepted a commission to paint murals in the halls at Rockefeller Center. Kahlo found New York considerably more diverting than Detroit.

Kahlo Turns to Art (01:31)

Kahlo's life was full of pain and heartache, but she turned to her art to express her feelings. She was a very talented artist and her work is well-known today.

Trotsky and Kahlo (05:42)

Kahlo and Rivera offered refuge in Mexico to Leon Trotsky, one of the fathers of the Russian Revolution. Kahlo painted a self-portrait for Trotsky.

Frida Kahlo's Painting: "What the Water Gave Me" (02:05)

The tumultuous circumstances of her personal life were reflected in many of her paintings.

Frida Kahlo's Painting: "Two Nudes in the Jungle" (05:45)

Many of Kahlo's paintings depict her own life story, including her tumultuous relationship with her husband, Diego Rivera. Kahlo suffered from physical and emotional pain throughout her life, which is often reflected in her paintings. This painting is evocative of Rousseau.

Frida Kahlo's Painting: "Monkey and Parrot" (03:25)

This painting, with its bright colors and sharply drawn images, seems to undulate with barely concealed erotic energy.

Frida Kahlo Painting: "The Mask of Madness" (03:37)

This painting, with its bright colors and sharply drawn images, seems to undulate with barely concealed erotic energy.

Frida Kahlo Painting: "Still Life With Parrot" (02:03)

A parrot is both mascot and predator in this richly colored still life. It is filled with ripening and decaying fruits which are icons of sexuality, fertility, and dissolution.

"Viva La Vida" & Kahlo's Death (02:04)

On July 13, Kahlo died from a pulmonary embolism.

Credits (00:04)

Credits