St Petersburg College Self Portrait of Frida Kahlo Questions Discussion

INTRODUCTION: For this module activity, you will conduct an art evaluation.

GRADING: See the Module Activity Grading Criteria for detailed information regarding the minimum requirements.

MATERIALS: Use Chapter 5 in your textbook and the Chapter 5 Required Online Exploration as your guides.

INSTRUCTIONS:

For your evaluation, review the online exploration for this module and examine this self-portrait of Frida Kahlo.

Now that you’ve carefully examined the work of visual art, construct your evaluation by using the following questions as a guide:

1. Kahlo painted this self-portrait during a prolonged stay in the United States while Rivera was working on a series of murals he had been commissioned to paint there. What parts of the painting represent Mexico? The United States? How do these two depictions differ?
2. Kahlo once said, “I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” What parts of herself does Kahlo seem to be exploring in this self-portrait?
3. What elements of surrealism do you see in the painting? What elements of indigenous art do you see? How do the two work together?
4. Frida Kahlo was first exhibited as Mrs. Diego Rivera. How do you think being married to a famous man affected Kahlo’s life?

While these questions appear to be opinion-based, remember that we are looking for a critical analysis in the form of an evaluation, so make sure you incorporate the required research component to support your claims.