Frida Kahlo's The Love Embrace of the Universe & on the Borderline Between the US and Mexico (Essay Sample)

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Frida Kahlo's "The Love Embrace of the Universe" & "On the Borderline Between the U.S. and Mexico”
Frida Kahlo is a Mexican female artist born in the year 1907. She was largely known for her harrowing iconography of her Mexican origin and the art of self-portrait. She had led a traumatic life and the numerous challenges of life had become part of her. As an artist, she did portray this part of her life through painting. At the age of eighteen, she was involved in an accident that left her crippled but this did not deter her from pursuing her dreams in life. She underwent a series of operations owing to her badly injured pelvis that led her subsequent miscarriages and abortions; something that made her life more miserable (Kulish 21). However, her physical inability never deterred her from expressing herself through the art of painting. As she struggled with her own pain and personal challenges, she did not forget her commitment to her country, its people and its heritage. Her other life was primarily eclipsed by the fame of her lover and husband Diego Rivera who was a very influential Mexican muralist. They had a complicated relationship that was characterized mutual admiration, separations and reconciliations. Her position as the wife to one of the most influential artist of the time became another theme for her artwork.
Self-portrait "The Love Embrace of the Universe"
Rivera, Kahlo’s husband was lured by the numerous opportunities in the art field in United States of America and so was compelled to move out in search of better opportunities. Despite them spending several years working in the United States and interacting with great personalities in the states, their connection to the life, culture of their Mexican origin was never thawed but remained absolute- as it was the defining element of their identity. In this light, Kahlo’s panting of her Self Portait on the Border Between Mexico and the United States sought to clearly demonstrate her love for her Mexican motherland. Despite working in the USA, her loyalty to the mother country could not be wished away and this was evident from the painting. The portrait also clearly shows her identity in the midst of the challenges of life. Frida did not lose her identity. From the self-portrait, it is evident that both aspects of a complicated and free life that Frida Kahlo led have been amicably captured. Despite being actively engaged with work in the United States, she takes time to reflect on her life experiences through the self-portrait. She consequently reflects on her past, present and future life through a reflective thought process. This was imperative in helping her cope with the fast American life and be in a position to understand her position in the society. Her inclusion of Mexico was instrumental in reminding her of her roots despite being in another foreign state for years. Moreover, the self-portrait demonstrates a representation of place, space and time with regards to her consciousness. Through the portrait she is able to identify her role in the society at any one time while embracing the many challenges that come along. The painting also demonstrates a journey of life from one phase to another. She had gone through many struggles and challenges in life and it was time to sit back, reflect and forge ahead with great determination and hope for a better future. Frida Kahlo is at the border and seems to head back to Mexico where her joy and hope belongs.
‘self-Portrait on the Border Between Mexico and the United States’
Frida Kahlo (1940)
In the Love Embrace of the Universe, Frida Kahlo is seen holding baby Rivera on her laps and the two have been embraced with the huge arms of the goddess. Mexican cacti and other divinity can be seen sprouting in the earth’s space. The large goddesses in the painting serve to signify aspects of good and evil; life and death. In this portrait, Frida Kahlo gives reverence to a supreme being who is in control of their lives. The painting by Kahlo works to create aspect of femininity, with the author wearing a red dress while holding Rivera on her laps and consequently being helped by the earth’s goddess in a virtual environment; the picture essentially symbolizes fertility and sensuality. The objective of the painting was to fundamentally demonstrate the position of women in the society and the exceptional role they play in making the universe a better place. She sought to drive a point about the significance of women at a point when the society had largely sidelined and marginalized them because of the cultures and traditions that govern the society of the time. Rivera is being carried like an infant baby who cannot stand on his own. This was symbolically used to demonstrate that men ride on the back of women and that their success in the world is built on the role that women play in modeling and supporting them in life.
the Love Embrace of the Universe
Frida Kahlo (1949)
In comparing the two paintings, it is evident that the ‘self-Portrait on the Border Between Mexico and the United States’ is largely based on the theme of politics and state governance. Kehlo stands at the middle of the two nations with America on her left and Mexico on her right. She goes on to demonstrate that every nation has its own fair share of opportunities and challenges. From the picture, America is highly industrialized with heavy machines and electrical cords are well installed. On the other side is the Mexican city characterized with plants and vegetation cover, the sun and moon. Kahlo who is centrally positioned in the picture with formal western clothes but the Mexican flag in her hands is a show of rebellion against American inferno and loyalty to her country (Siltala 71).
On the other hand, the painting on The Love Embrace of the Universe demonstrates Kahlo’s view of social attitudes, culture and perception towards women. Through the painting, she endeavored to exhibit aspec...