Frida Kahlos Two Fridas embodies the trauma and pain that

result in the seemingly complete loss of hope due to tragic experiences

in life. Two Fridas was painted in 1939, during a time of hardship and
suffering for Kahlo. Although Two Fridas appears like a mundane,
static, and seemingly revolting painting, it has an electrifying and
dynamic message -- we must embrace our experiences, no matter how
traumatic, reflect and learn from them, in the pursuit of happiness.
At first glance, the painting depicts two dull women; upon looking
more closely, however, one realizes that the two women are the same
person. The woman in the white colonial lace dress represents Fridas
despondent half, and the woman in brightly colored, traditional
Mexican garments is her content half. Her despondent half, sitting
stoically, looks confined both by the veins wrapping around her neck
and by her constricting clothing. Her heart is open, raw, and exposed.
Her content half, on the other hand, looks free and in her hand is a
photo of Diego Rivera, the love of her life. The heart and veins connect
the two versions of Frida. Blood vessels stream from the two halves of
her heart symbolizing their connection, joining the two Fridas as one.
The vein wraps around her content halfs arm, constricting her, and it
ends in the hands of her despondent half. Fridas heart is exposed
signifying her emotional vulnerability; her heart is broken. By using two
vastly different representations of herself, Kahlo expresses the trauma
of tragedy and loss.

Kahlo experiences many tragedies throughout her life that she

illustrates in her painting. She lived a happy childhood and
adolescence, and she became known for her jovial spirit and her love
of traditional and colorful clothes and jewelry.1 Kahlo was free spirited
even though she had suffered from polio at age 6. All her happiness
changed on September 17, 1925, when Kahlo was involved in a bus
accident that left her infertile and semi-paralyzed. This catapulted her
into a depression, which she overcame in two ways. She began to
paint, and she met Diego Rivera, her future husband. The image of
Frida in traditional Mexican garments and improper posture represents
the person she was when she was at her happiest, therefore, her
content half. In 1939, the year she created this painting, Rivera
divorced her. The love of her life, Rivera, had an affair with Kahlos
sister, and Kahlo suffered three miscarriages. One can imagine that
Frida must have been devastated by betrayal and loss. The devastated
part of her is represented in this painting. These tragic events marked
a dark period in her life in which she uses art to highlight the
complexities of human pain and emotions.
Fridas despondent half holds a clamp in her hand, and in the
clamp is a vein dripping blood; this expresses her choice between
letting go and bleeding to death or staying alive and suffering. Frida

1 Found on www.biography.com

has the power to stop the bleeding, but she does not want to because
she cannot live with her depressed, tragic, and hopeless half. She
desires to go back to her content half before her accident, her lovers
betrayal, and her three miscarriages to the time when she was in love
and euphoric. The vein that connects the two depictions of herself,
however, cannot allow for this separation to happen. They are one; the
two halves are her, and one cannot go away without the other
following. Fridas indecisiveness exemplifies the storm of emotions
within her.
The background is significant, in that it has the appearance of a
storm, portraying how conflicted Frida feels. The grays and blacks
swirled together give the impression of a tempestuous conflict. Frida
struggles with how to calm the storm within her. Tying the whole
painting together, the background gives the painting a theme and
communicates her unconscious conflict and sadness. The dark and dull
colors against her bright clothes and skin provide a contrast showing
that while she might look fine on the outside, on the inside she is
contemplating whether to lie or die.
Fridas despair is similar to Shakespeares Hamlet. In Hamlets
soliloquy, he announces, To be or not to be, that is the
question,(Hamlet 3.1). Hamlet is debating suicide; he is spurned by
love, devastated by his fathers death, and betrayed by his mother.
Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, but Ophelia does not return his tokens

of love. These events cause Hamlet to enter depression and to

question if life is worth living. Frida, too, suffers from the pain of love
not being returned. Like Hamlet, she suffers many tragedies
throughout her life and ponders if life is worth living. Her painting is
the embodiment of to be or not to be, and the pain of enduring
through tragedy. Both of these great works have a similar message
prompting us to realize that we need to experience pain, in order to
appreciate the beauty and joy in life.
Kahlos masterpiece continues to have a profound impact on
scholars of art and those who choose to examine her message. In
dealing with her trauma, Kahlos simple and mundane painting of two
women sharing a heart has changed peoples lives. Those who come to
fully understand the gravity of this piece of artwork, walk away from it
changed. Those who are going through a troubling time become
hopeful for a better future and do not feel so isolated. Happy people
discover a renewed gratitude and love for life. The message
invigorates people and encourages them to keep living life in pursuit of
happiness whilst empowering them to confront and enduring through
their pain. A painting that at first sight looks confusing and ghastly has
a heartwarming and appealing message about life. Through Frida
Kahlos suffering, she has rejuvenated our optimism and joie dvivre.
The most important message here is that we cannot judge the future
based upon out past. Much like Rudyard Kipling in his famous poem

If, where he writes, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and
treat those two imposters just the same, Kahlos Two Fridas shows us
transient nature of pain. Two Fridas has a profound message if one
takes the time to stop, look, reflect, and feel.