The artwork titled “Self-Portrait Very Ugly” is a creation by the renowned artist Frida Kahlo, completed in the year 1933. Kahlo executed this piece using the medium of fresco on masonite, a method that involves the application of paint on fresh, wet plaster. With dimensions measuring 23 by 22 centimeters, this work is relatively small in scale. The self-portrait is a reflection of the Naïve Art movement, often associated with Primitivism, which is characterized by a simplicity and deliberate lack of sophistication. Currently, this notable self-portrait is housed in a private collection.
In this self-portrait, Kahlo presents herself in a frontal, close-up view, a hallmark of her self-portrait style. Her face occupies the majority of the composition, capturing the viewer’s attention with a straightforward gaze that suggests introspection and a candid confrontation with the self. The artist’s distinctive features such as her famous unibrow and piercing eyes are depicted with sharp clarity. The inclusion of the words “very ugly” in the artwork’s title, juxtaposed with Kahlo’s serene yet poignant expression, reflects an intriguing duality – the open acknowledgment of pain or self-critique within the context of her powerful self-representation. While the background elements are not distinctly visible, hints of text and what appears to be a star and a suspended orb contribute to the artwork’s intricately symbolic narrative – elements often found in Kahlo’s work, imbued with personal meaning.
