The Two Fridas

The artist of the work, The Two Fridas, is Frida Kahlo who was best known for her self portraits. This piece was finished in Paris, France in 1939. It is displayed in the Gallery Museum Modern Art in Mexico City, Mexico. To make this self portrait Frida used canvas and her technique was oils. When a viewer would like upon this piece, they would see two women sitting side by side. The onlooker may come to the assumption that these two women are either identical twins or sisters. In this artwork there could be multiple subjects. For example, the fact that these two Fridas are holding hands can signify the thought of Siamese twins. However, this piece can also personify a split personality. The reason for this suggestion is because these two Fridas are the same women, however each of them are portrayed in very different ways. The Frida on the right is in a Mexican dress, with masculine
One example are the two different types of dresses that the painter wears. One gown's significance is of Frida's European background on her father's side while the other is her Mexican influence on her mother's side. Another important element are the hearts. This emphasizes the sensitivity of the emotional turmoil that continually lingered in Kahlo's life. The fact that she was bedridden twice in her life, for two detrimental incidents, and the divorce from her husband come alive in this piece through the element of the two hearts. They signify great pain, not only emotional but also physical. A final element in this work would be the gender association. Frida on the right, with the Mexican dress is viewed as a more masculine figure. Kahlo gives this version of herself a mustache, a cleft chin, muscular arms, large hands, and she is sitting in a very manly fashion. The Kahlo on the left, in the European gown, has a more fashionable hairdo, is wearing some makeup, has a more feminine face, and is sitting like a proper