The artwork “Diego and I” was created by Frida Kahlo in 1949. It is an oil painting executed on masonite, measuring 29.5 by 22.4 cm. The piece is classified within the Naïve Art movement, specifically Primitivism, and it is a self-portrait that showcases Kahlo’s unique artistic style.
In this artwork, Frida Kahlo presents a deeply personal and compelling self-portrait. The most striking feature is her intense gaze that engages the viewer, and the inclusion of her husband, Diego Rivera, depicted on her forehead, suggesting his prevailing presence in her thoughts. This portrayal is imbued with emotion, reflected by the single tear rolling down her cheek, which may indicate the complex feelings she harbored towards Rivera and their tumultuous relationship. The background is relatively simple and textured, possibly to focus the attention on her face and the embedded portrait. The colors are vivid, yet they carry a certain weight, hinting at Kahlo’s pain and emotional state. Her signature, along with the year the artwork was created, is inscribed in the upper right corner, seamlessly integrated into the painting’s tableau.
