Artists: Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
Synopsis: Frida Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderon on July 6,
1907, in Mexico City, Mexico. She is considered one of Mexico’s greatest artists. She is
recognized widely for her stirring art, which speaks to the pain she experienced in her lifetime.
Today, Kahlo continues to be an artistic and feminist icon.
Early Life
Frida Kahlo was born in 1907 in Mexico City. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was a German
immigrant and her mother, Matilde Calderon y Gonzalez, was of indigenous and Spanish
descent. At the age of 6, Kahlo became sick with polio. She was in bed for nine months. The
disease caused her right leg and foot to grow thinner than her left. Kahlo turned to long skirts
to cover her thin leg. She would later be recognized for her iconic fashion style.
As a child, Kahlo was very close with her father. He was an artist himself, and he taught her
about photography, literature and nature.
By Evelyn Quezada, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.09.17
Word Count 696
Level 810L
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Education
At the age of 15, in 1922, Kahlo enrolled in the famous National Preparatory School. She was
a brave and outspoken student with plans to attend medical school.
In 1925, these plans were halted forever. Kahlo was on a bus that was hit by a trolley car. She
suffered several severe injuries. While she was recovering in bed, she spent her time painting.
Kahlo had a special easel that allowed her to paint while she was lying down, with a mirror
above her so she could paint her self-portraits. Kahlo would continue to paint self-portraits for
the rest of her life. "I paint myself because I am so often alone," she once said.
Proud Of Her Mexican Heritage
By 1927, Kahlo had mostly recovered from her injuries. She got involved in politics and joined
the Mexican Communist Party. The communists believed that property should be shared.
Their goal was to do away with the gap between the rich and the poor, and to have an equal
economy for everyone. Kahlo met several leading communist figures, including the painter
Diego Rivera. Rivera was famous for his murals. These were enormous paintings that he
made directly on walls.
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A year after they met, Kahlo and Rivera were married in 1929. The couple moved to
Cuernavaca, México, where Kahlo focused on her art. She had always been proud of her
heritage and began demonstrating her Mexican pride through her clothing. She wore
traditional dresses, colorful tops and long flowing skirts. This flamboyant style also appeared
in Kahlo's paintings. It shaped how the world would soon come to know her and her work.
Kahlo Abroad
Rivera's work took the couple to the United States, where Rivera was hired to paint murals.
Kahlo was disappointed by American life. She disapproved of the rich people living in their
fancy homes while the poor went hungry. Instead of being social, she focused on developing
her style of painting.
In 1934, the couple returned to Mexico. Their marriage started to suffer. Rivera was not happy
about leaving the United States, and Kahlo was once again facing health problems. Both
Rivera and Kahlo began dating other people. Kahlo had female romantic partners throughout
her lifetime and was openly bisexual.
In 1937, a collection of Kahlo's paintings was shown at the National Autonomous University of
Mexico. Kahlo was eventually invited to show her work in New York. With her fresh paintings
and bold appearance, she was widely praised in the United States.
Divorce, Remarriage And Illness
In 1939, Kahlo and Rivera ended their marriage. The couple split but remained friends. Kahlo
returned to her childhood home in Mexico, where she created her most well-known paintings.
A year later, she and Rivera got back together and remarried.
In Kahlo’s final years, her health worsened and she fell into a deep sadness. Her work
continued to win praise, and she kept painting. Kahlo passed away on July 13, 1954, at the
age of 47.
Legacy
Kahlo’s fame continues to grow. She is now recognized as one of Mexico’s most famous
artists and is known worldwide for her striking paintings. She is considered an iconic figure in
the LGBTQ, feminist and Mexican communities.
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Quiz
1 Which section of the article MOST highlights the idea that Kahlo's unique style was partly the
result of unfortunate circumstances early in her life?
(A) Synopsis
(B) "Early Life"
(C) "Education"
(D) "Kahlo Abroad"
2 Select the paragraph from the section "Kahlo Abroad" that BEST explains how Kahlo's personal
life was affected by her time abroad.
3 Which of the following MOST influenced Frida Kahlo's artwork?
(A) her service in the Mexican Communist Party
(B) her marriage to Diego Rivera
(C) her hatred of culture in the United States
(D) her time alone after her terrible accident
4 Read the section "Proud Of Her Mexican Heritage."
What is the MOST important reason why Kahlo wore traditional Mexican clothing?
(A) to prove that she could live out societal norms
(B) to help her husband understand her history
(C) to highlight her pride in her cultural background
(D) to show her relationship to the Mexican Communist Party
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4