The artwork titled “Still Life (Round)” was crafted by the renowned artist Frida Kahlo in 1942. This piece, which is an oil painting on copper, is a testament to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. It is categorized as a still life and currently resides at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City, Mexico.
Depicted in a round format, the artwork presents a lush and vibrant assemblage of fruits, flowers, and plants, rich with detail and color. In the painting’s center, a halved papaya with its seeds spilling out attracts attention, symbolizing fertility and perhaps alluding to the cycle of life and decay. Surrounding the papaya, an array of fruits including plums, bananas, and what appear to be citrus fruits offer a feast for the eyes, each carefully rendered to show texture and ripeness. A butterfly alights delicately near the papaya, adding a sense of life and movement to the composition. Various flowers and leaves are interspersed among the fruits, enhancing the sense of abundance and the interconnection of all forms of natural life.
The use of a dark background accentuates the vivid colors in the foreground, making each element pop and providing a stark contrast that highlights the natural beauty of the subjects. The painting’s border features an intricate design that complements the central composition, unifying the overall aesthetic of the piece. Overall, Kahlo’s work radiates a sense of vibrancy and depth, inviting the viewer to contemplate the simple beauty often found in the everyday objects of the natural world.
