The artwork “Self Portrait with Cropped Hair” is a creation of the illustrious artist Frida Kahlo, made in the year 1940. The medium used is oil on canvas, and it is a self-portrait reflective of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. This piece measures 40 by 28 centimeters and is held at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, New York, United States.
As we observe the artwork, we notice Frida Kahlo represented in a rather masculine attire, sporting a loose-fitting suit, which is in stark contrast to the traditional feminine garb she is customarily depicted wearing. Her hairstyle is notably short, having cropped her long tresses that were once a signature element of her femininity. Kahlo sits on a yellow wooden chair against a backdrop that could be interpreted as barren ground with scattered hair, hinting at the act of cutting her hair.
Above her, a musical score runs horizontally, guiding the viewer’s eye across the portrait, which suggests a rhythm or possibly a personal narrative attached to the artwork. Her facial expression is composed and direct, meeting the gaze of the viewer, engaging in non-verbal communication that captures an intimate moment of change and self-redefinition. This painting is rich in symbolism, evoking themes of identity, transformation, and independence.
