The artwork titled “Self Portrait with Monkey” is a notable work by the artist Frida Kahlo, created in 1940. This oil painting on masonite is a quintessential example of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, with dimensions measuring 55.2 by 43.5 cm. As a self-portrait, it showcases the artist’s personal style and her frequent use of animal symbolism. The piece is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts the artist’s face set against a verdant backdrop of large, green leaves that occupy the upper two-thirds of the composition. Her visage is rendered with meticulous attention to detail, particularly her distinctive eyebrows and her probing, steady gaze that engages the viewer directly. Her hair is bundled on top of her head with a striking red ribbon that matches the bold ribbon wrapped around her neck. The warmth of the red contrasts with the natural green of the leaves and the yellow tones of her attire.
She wears a traditional yellow blouse with a pattern that imparts a texture to its surface. A monkey, a motif recurring in Kahlo’s work and emblematic of her deep connection with the natural world and Mexican heritage, gently rests its arm on her shoulder and gazes toward the viewer, creating an intimate connection between human and animal. The monkey’s presence adds a layer of complexity to the portrait, suggesting themes of companionship and the intertwining of nature and human identity. The tightly cropped framing of Kahlo and the monkey places the focus squarely on their expressions and the relationship between them, further underscoring the introspective nature of the work.
