Another interpretation, when looking at its limp wings, suggests a loss of mobility and liveliness since a hummingbird’s wings normally move so rapidly. One meaning I associated with this was the idea that nature and life move on despite pain and suffering. It looks as though it could be about to suck up the drops of blood as though it were nectar from a flower. The humming bird appears as an adornment of her necklace. The disturbed reaction of the cat illustrates the anguish she actually feels. The cat seems to be looking at the blood and focusing just on the pain. In juxtaposition, the cat to the right has its back arched and ears flatted in agitation. The monkey represents the part of Kahlo that tries to keep control over her discomfort. He is looking at the branch, or rather the cause of the pain, and accepting the situation for what it is without showing emotion. Being a primate, he is more closely associated with the ability to use human reasoning. The monkey to the left seems calm and unaffected as he toys with what appears to be one of the thorny branches. The animals behind her further represent inner struggle of the artist. The choice to use spiny vines, as opposed to something like barbed wire, for instance, references nature and the idea that pain is an inevitable part of it. As the title suggests, the painful necklace has become an inseparable accessory to her life. She is so entangled in them that they have become inescapable. They are constructed so tightly that they draw blood in what is a clear representation of discomfort. The most obvious, of course, are the thorns knotted around the subject’s neck. Looking beyond the portrayal of the artist, there are several symbolic pieces that fill the work. This adds to the contrast between physical discomfort and mental control. Although she is trapped by her pain, however, she stands tall rather than writhing. The pose is ridged, as she cannot reasonably move much with the sharp branches wound tightly around her. I see her heighted head as literally rising above the pain. This not only helps to accommodate the large bushel of thorns, it also draws added attention to both the thorns and her face by putting more space between them. Both her bare face and her pain are simply part of who she is.Īside from the subject’s face, her neck appears to be disproportionately long. The thorns are presented a similar matter-of-fact way. Facial hair is also apparent between her thick eyebrows and above and below her lips. Her face is also au naturel, with her skin unevenly toned and make-up free. The eyes reveal a hint of her inner agony, despite the stoic exterior. Upon further inspection of her eyes, they appear to be watering as though holding back tears. Although her gaze is centered as though she is looking at the viewer, she appears to be more lost in thought that actually making eye contact. Despite the thorns cutting into her skin, her face appears calm and expressionless at first. The first thing I examined was the artist’s depiction of herself. Kahlo here, I believe, is expressing her inner struggle to find acceptance and maintain mental control in dealing with her pain. Pain is a part of nature, but the ability to control the reaction to pain, is human. There are also elements that align with nature to suggest that pain is a natural part of life. The symbolism in the painting, as well as the expression of the depicted artist, however, goes further to tell a story of acceptance in coping with pain. Looking at the painting, with the prickled thorns puncturing skin, it is not hard to draw the conclusion that the focus of the work is on pain. Kahlo also experienced emotional hurt during her tumultuous marriage to artist, Diego Rivera. Much of it was physical, stemming from a bus accident in which she was impaled by a steel bar. From the biopic, I remember some background knowledge on Kahlo’s life, and that she spent much of her life dealing with pain. I have seen the movie, Frida, which chronicles the experiences of the artist, played by Salma Hayek. It is a startling image depicting the artist entwined by thorny branches and surrounded by various animals against a leafy backdrop. For this post, I chose the painting, Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace by Frida Kahlo.
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