FRIDA KAHLO

Define 'Surrealism'

Surrealism is an artistic and revolutionary movement which explores the potential of the subconscious mind. A surrealist artwork can be identified through juxtaposition, incongruity or metamorphism. Each of these themes can be further developed through extensive amounts of symbolism, dreamlike imagery or collages. Automatism is reflected upon surrealist techniques, such as spontaneous decisions made by the artist.

The development of the movement

The origin of the movement in the 1920s in Europe, was during World War I, to encourage the theory that the cause of the war was due to excessive rational thought. The structure of this belief was recognised by Dadaist artists, who embraced chaos and unconscious desires. The idea of a ‘pure state of mind,’ encouraged artists, like Frida Kahlo, to express thoughts, dreams, and experiences freely. Thus, creating the Surrealist movement (Study.com, n.d.).

Surrealist Artworks

Cover of the first issue of La Révolution surréaliste, December 1924.

How was Frida Kahlo involved?

Frida Kahlo contributed unique and welcoming ideas to the surrealist movement. In 1940, André Breton, who was considered to be the leader of the Surrealist Movement, held the fourth ‘International Surrealist Exhibition’ in Mexico City. The exhibition showcased two of Kahlo’s surrealist artworks, “The Two Fridas” and “The Wounded Table.” (Frida Kahlo, n.d.). The publicity of her artworks showed, earned her credit as part of the surrealist movement, where her career continued to flourish. Although her art featured techniques like juxtaposition and symbolism, Frida Kahlo was unlike traditional artists during the movement, who conformed their ways to follow the surrealist manifesto. Instead, Kahlo painted her own reality, rather than her dreams and subconscious. For example, the tragic bus accident on September 1925, left Kahlo with a shattered spine and pelvis as a result. An irrevocable injury like so, followed by emotional depression and very traumatic effects on her, which is reflected in many of Kahlo’s artworks, including, “The Broken Column”(1944) “The Wounded Deer” (1946) and “Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird,” (1940). Through themes of gender, politics, national identity, and the absent or traumatised body, the idea of incorporating personal experiences with the surrealist movement is a key example of Frida Kahlo’s engagement in the Surrealist Movement.