The Frame Self Portrait
Frida Kahlo
11 1/8” x 8”
1938
Vocabulary
Self Portrait
A self-portrait is a painting by an artist of him or herself. The painting tells
us something about who the artist is. It gives us clues about what is important to the artist.
We can guess what the artist loves by what is in the painting.
Surreal art - Art that is not realistic. It has a dreamlike quality.
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Lesson Plan
Meet the Artist
1. Frida Kahlo de Rivera (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954) born Magdalena Carmen Frieda
Kahlo y Calderón) was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, in her home known as the Blue
House.
2.
At the age of six, Frida contracted polio, which caused her right leg to appear much
thinner than the other. It was to remain that way permanently. Later in life she would
disguise her leg with colorful long skirts. Although she suffered with her leg, she still
participated in boxing and other sports. On
3.
September 17, 1925, Kahlo was riding in a bus that collided with a trolley car. She
suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident, including a broken spinal column, a
broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken pelvis, and 11 fractures in her right leg, a crushed
and dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder.
4.
After the accident, Kahlo began her painting career. Her mother had a special easel made
for her so she could paint in bed, and her father lent her his box of oil paints and some
brushes.
5.
She painted to occupy her time during her temporary immobilization. Her self-portraits
were a dominant part of her life when she was immobile for three months after her
accident. Kahlo once said, "I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the
subject I know best."
6.
Diego Rivera had a great influence on Frida’s painting style. Frida had always admired
Diego and his work. She first approached Diego in 1927. She showed him four of her
paintings, and asked whether he considered her gifted. Diego was impressed and said, “You
got talent.” After that, he became a frequent welcomed guest at Frida’s house. He gave her
many insights about her artwork while still leaving her space to explore herself. There is no
doubt that the positive and encouraging comments made by Diego strengthened Frida’s
wish to pursue a career as an artist. They were married in 1929. (Rivera being 20 years her
senior)
8.
Their marriage was called a union between an elephant and a dove, due to Diego’s
enormous size and Frida’s small dove like features.
9.
Mexican culture and their traditions are important in her work, which has been
sometimes characterized as folk art. Her work has also been described as "surrealist",
Dreamlike paintings.
10. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as symbol of national and indigenous tradition,
and filled with color and forms of Mexican folk art.
11.
In 1953, when Frida Kahlo had her first solo exhibition in Mexico. The only one held in
her native country during her lifetime.
12.
At the time of her exhibition opening, Frida's health was such that her Doctor told
her that she was not to leave her bed. She insisted that she was going to attend her opening,
and, in Frida style, she did. She arrived in an ambulance and her bed in the back of a truck.
She was placed in her bed and four men carried her in to the waiting guests.
13.
Frida created some 200 paintings, drawings and sketches. Of her 143 paintings, 55 are
self-portraits which often incorporate symbolic portrayals of physical and psychological
wounds. She insisted, "I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.
14.
Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954, soon after turning 47. A few days before her death,
she wrote in her diary: "I hope the exit is joyful — and I hope never to return — Frida".[
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Possible Questions
Ask the children to tell you what catches their eye?
What colors are more dominate, and have them imagine guess why she chose those
specific colors
Have them name primary colors blue green yellow red
Do the color choices reflect her feelings?
How does this picture make you feel?
Do you think Frida is happy or sad?
Why do you think she did so many self portraits?
Was it to capture all her moods, or was it to tell a history of her life in portraits?
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The Project
A Framed Retablo with “Repujado”(Engraving) method
Retalbo paintings are Catholic religious painting that became very popular in the
Mexican religious culture in the 19th Century.
They are usually small scale, 8" x 10", and painted mostly on wood or metal but
occasionally on canvas for patrons who could afford a better quality painting.
Retablo artists often paint on tin. Sometimes they add bits of paper or cloth to the
painting. The artist leaves part of the tin showing. This makes the painting shiny
and special.
The "Retablo" is a painting of a particular patron saint or other images of devotion.
Hand painted Retablos for the most part has been replaced by the abundance and
availability of lithographs.
Frida Kahlo did many self-portraits in retablo-style. She painted herself in Mexican
costumes. Her colors were bold and eye-catching.
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Supplies
cardboard (12" x 18") one for each student
tin foil
soap flakes or liquid hand soap
tempera paint or permanent markers
white glue
wooden scratch sticks
precut copied symbols
Steps
1. Hand out cardboard, tin foil, and scratch sticks
2. Have student write their names on the back
3. Cover the cardboard with a large piece of tin foil. Smooth out the foil. If the foil will
not stay flat on the cardboard, tape it down on the back.
4. Have student using their scratch sticks to outline their face or a particular symbol
which they identify with on foil.
5. Mix the tempera paint. Add enough liquid soap to make the paint thick. The paint
should be as thick as pudding. The soap makes the paint stick to the tin foil.
6. When finished while paint is wet or glue, add bits of collage items, scrap paper,
letters and shapes, magazine cuttings
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Process
Painting a Self-Portrait:
Paint your own self-portrait. You will be the main person -the focus- of the painting. You do
not need to paint your whole body. You can paint only your head and shoulders. You might
want to paint a silhouette of yourself. A silhouette is a side view.
Let your painting dry completely. Now add bits of collage items to your self-portrait.
Add things that are important to you. Include things that you love. Use photos,
pictures cut from magazines, letters, or schoolwork. You will have other ideas of
things to use. Stick them on with white glue.
Do not cover all the tin foil. Make sure that you can see some of the tin foil when you
have finished. The shiny tin will make your painting look like a retablo.
Make a retablo gallery in your classroom. Invite your friends and family to see your
work. Can they guess which one is yours?