Along The Borderline Between Mexico And The United States By Frida Kahlo

Within Frida Kahlo’s painting Self Portrait Along the Borderline Between Mexico and the United States she includes many symbols such as the lighting that carries throughout the painting, the statues, Ford hospital and factory, and the way her hands are folded and what they hold. Each of those contribute to the meaning Frida Kahlo wants to express in this painting which is how she feels about America and Mexico compared to one another. Those feelings she wants to express is that she truly values Mexico over America due to those symbols which clearly express not only the elements of Mexico she values but what she associates not only with Mexico but with America also. By examining this painting and understanding Frida’s life you are able to feel her passion for Mexico versus her resentment for America through many symbols. These symbols are not only symbols but they are the most explicit in expressing her feelings in the painting. In the painting your eyes first draw to the actual objects in the painting but as you look at the details you soon realize that the supposed American side of the painting is
Looking closely, you notice how the hand holding the Mexican flag is not only folded on top of the hand holding the cigarette but also pointing to Mexico. By having that hand on top of the other it is able to show how Frida most likely preferred Mexico to America. As you know this is not the only way Frida shows this because as mentioned earlier Mexico is the only part of the painting with light. Now the cigarette in Frida’s other hand which points to the US represents the US because she picked up her heavy smoking addiction when she first crossed the border so she associates this badness with America. This can also help explain why America is so dark and almost