Frida Kahlo

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Frida Kahlo

• Tortured Soul

By Mrs. Romani and Mrs. Chen
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Torn between Culture and Time
Surrealism
Modern Art
Abstract Art
Folk Art
The Two Fridas (Las dos Fridas), 1939Oil on
canvas 67-11/16 x 67-11/16 inches
The Suicide of Dorothy Hale, 1939. Oil on
Masonite. 23 13/16 x 19 1/8 in.
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e/frida_kahlo.jpg
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The Feldman MethodThere are many philosophies
on how to analyze and interpreting Art.
Fortunately, Edmund Feldman created a simple 4
step structure of the criticism of art consisting
of description, analysis, interpretation and
judgment.

• Description -
• What is the Artists name? Title of the work?
  Date of the work? Medium or materials used? What
  do you see in the picture?
• What kind of subject matter is in the picture?
  Portrait or Landscape?

• Analysis -
• What is in the foreground, mid-ground, and
  background? What colors and shapes are used and
  how have they been arranged? Are there any
  leading lines, patterns, and if so, where is your
  eye lead, Is there any use of contrast? if so
  where. Is there a sense of space or perspective.
  Are there any special techniques employed by the
  artist?

• Interpretation
• What story do you think is being told?

• Judgment
• What do you like or dislike? How successful do
  you think the artist was?

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Description

• Frida Kahlo
• Animals, Insects, Bird and Green Leaves
• Self Portraiture
• Landscape (vertical)

Kahlo, Frida. Self Portrait with Thorn Necklace
and Hummingbird, 1940 oil on canvas.
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Analysis
Background Middle Ground Foreground

• Triangle,
• Pattern in green leaves,
• Thorny Vine/ Leading Line
• Muted palette

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Interpretation

• Self Portrait with Thorn necklace and Hummingbird
• Black bird contrasting against white shirt
• Two Animals
• Insects
• Pain, torment juxtaposed with natural
  surroundings
• Dissonance

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Judgment

• Likes Translucency, Triangle composition, Animal
  subject matter, Contrast, Thorns, Features
• Dislikes Contrast of Yellow-green leaf
• Successful Tortured life experiences conveyed
• Unsuccessful muted colors

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Bibliography

• Zamora, Martha. Frida Kahlo the Brush of
  Anguish. San Francisco Chronicle Books, 1990.
• Gowing, Sir Lawrence, General Editor. Facts on
  File Biographical Encyclopedia of Artists.
  Volume 2. New York Facts on File, 2005.
• Biography. FridaKahlo.com. FridaKahlo.com.
  10 October 2008. lthttp//www.fridakahlo.com/gt.