The artwork titled “Me and My Parrots” by Frida Kahlo was created in 1941 and is an oil on canvas self-portrait. It is associated with the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and measures 82 by 62.8 cm. The artwork falls within the self-portrait genre and is currently part of the Harold H. Stream Collection located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
This compelling self-portrait by Frida Kahlo presents the artist seated against a dark background, her gaze confrontational yet distant. She features prominently in the composition, with her iconic unibrow and tightly styled hair adding to her immediately recognizable visage. Kahlo is flanked by two parrots on her shoulders and holds an additional two in her arms, their vibrant plumage providing a stark contrast to her simple white blouse and lending a lively, dynamic quality to the painting. In this portrayal, the parrots appear both as her companions and as symbols, potentially alluding to themes of freedom and entrapment. The artist’s hands are elegantly poised, with one hand holding a cigarette—a detail that adds to the narrative and personal character of the self-portrait. The textures offered by the feathers of the birds and the textile of her garment are rendered with careful attention, while the straightforward and earnest portrayal epitomizes the straightforwardness frequently seen in Naïve art. Through her commanding presence and the symbolism imbued within her feathered companions, Kahlo invites viewers into an intimate yet enigmatic tableau that is emblematic of her unique artistic legacy.
