The artwork, “Self Portrait with Curly Hair” by Frida Kahlo, was created in 1935. This self-portrait is an oil painting on tin, which measures 19.3 by 14.7 centimeters and falls within the Naïve Art movement, particularly Primitivism. As the genre suggests, it is a representation of the artist herself.
In the artwork, Frida Kahlo portrays herself with meticulous attention to her distinctive features, which have become synonymous with her artistic identity. Her gaze is direct and confrontational, engaging the viewer with a sense of boldness and self-assuredness. Kahlo’s iconic unibrow and a hint of a mustache are rendered with the same care and prominence as in many of her other self-portraits. Her hair is styled in a mass of curls that add volume and texture to the composition.
She adorns herself with jewelry, most notably a pair of hoop earrings and a necklace composed of large, spherical beads that perhaps indicate her connection to Mexican cultural heritage. The brushwork in the portrait is controlled and smooth, with a nuanced use of color that brings Kahlo’s features to life. Reddish hues in her garment complement the cool blue tones of the beads and serve to warm the overall color palette.
The background is unadorned and softly hue-shifted, allowing the figure of Kahlo to be the unequivocal focal point of the work. The intimacy of the painting, compounded by its small size, suggests a private moment of self-reflection that the artist has chosen to share with the onlooker. This piece contributes to the rich tapestry of Frida Kahlo’s self-exploration through art, encapsulating her inner strength and outward individuality.
