The artwork “Self Portrait with Braid” is a creation by Frida Kahlo, painted in 1941. This oil on masonite piece is part of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and measures 51 x 38.7 cm. It falls under the self-portrait genre and is part of the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, currently located in Mexico City, Mexico.
The artwork presents an intense and introspective self-portrait of the artist. Frida Kahlo is depicted with her characteristic unflinching gaze directed towards the viewer, creating an atmosphere of engagement and confrontation. She is adorned with a braid that forms a kind of crown around her head, adding to the sense of dignity and self-possession that is a hallmark of her portraits. The braid is intricately designed, emphasizing her Mexican heritage through its form and the traditional style in which it is done.
In this portrait, her attire and the accessory—a necklace with a pre-Columbian hand pendant—further reflect her deep connection to and celebration of Mexican indigenous culture. Kahlo’s clothing, often omitted or limited to her upper torso in her self-portraits, here is suggested by large leaves that cover her body, adding a symbolic element that may reference fertility, life, and nature—an intertwining motif in much of Kahlo’s work.
Kahlo’s use of bold colors and her direct engagement with the audience through her staring eyes are indicative of her personal style, which, while sharing aspects of Naïve Art with its simple and direct approach, transcends categorization due to its complex symbolism and emotional depth. The painting exudes an air of resilience and quiet power, embodying the artist’s enduring spirit despite her personal struggles.
