The artwork “My Nurse and I,” created by Frida Kahlo in 1937, is an oil painting on metal. Measuring 30.5 x 37 cm, the piece is a portrayal that belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and can be found in the Dolores Olmedo Collection in Mexico City, Mexico. Characterized by its genre as a portrait, the painting offers a deeply personal and symbolic glimpse into Kahlo’s thoughts and experiences.
The artwork depicts a dual figure composition where a stately, dark-skinned nurse or wet nurse, representing a motherly figure, dominates the canvas. This nurse cradles a much smaller Frida, who appears as an infant in her arms. The nurse has her breast exposed, giving nourishment to the infant Frida, who, intriguingly, has the fully developed face of her adult self. The nurse’s face is obscured with a pre-Hispanic mask, referencing Frida’s Mexican heritage and possibly suggesting the timeless and universal role of the caregiver.
The setting appears somewhat surreal, with a backdrop of a cloudy sky punctuated by raindrops. The nurse and infant are framed by lush vegetation, including large leaves that suggest a tropical environment. The foliage seems to engulf the figures, further enhancing the dreamlike or mythic quality of the scene.
The choice of oil on metal as a medium lends the painting an enduring quality, and the dimensions make it an intimate piece. The artwork’s genre as a portrait invites contemplation on the relationship between the figures, which can be interpreted as an exploration of Frida’s own identity and her connection to cultural roots and maternal figures. The presence in the picturesque location of Mexico City situates the work firmly within the rich cultural context of Kahlo’s life and work.
