Cultural Versus Opportunities:
An Analysis of Frida Kahlo And Carmen Lomas Garza
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Both of these paintings show the love and desire to hold on to ones heritage and family traditions which is extremely important in Hispanic families. Both with vivid colors and images. In Kahlo’s “Self Portrait on the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States”, even though she is a Mexican woman living in a non-Mexican country, she is able to accept both sides and hold on to her own Mexican heritage and culture which it seems she preferred. In Garza’s “Camas Para Sueños”(Beds for Dreams), Garza is showing the love and closeness she had with her sister and how her mother allowed them to dream and reach after those dreams as they kept
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This all suggests influences she likes, dislikes, and is perhaps confused by. She is, in this picture, part of both worlds and clearly the side that is relative to Mexico is patriotic and very Mexican in spirit. But the hand that holds a cigarette clearly speaks of the industrial and damaging nature of the United States, perhaps suggesting the negative influence the United States has on Mexico. As it pertains to religious icons or images there are no obvious religious images on the side with the United States. However, when one asks that question, regarding religious, one may well argue that industrialization, manufacturing, and smokestacks, is the religion of the United States. On the Mexican side are many references to the history and the religion of Mexico. There is what appears to be a goddess statue with two infants, a statue from ancient Aztec religions perhaps, and the ancient architectural elements of Mexico. The entire natural presentation of Mexico is offered in a religious nature, even incorporating a skull which could well relate to the Day of the Dead, a religious holiday for Mexico. The religion of the United States, in this case, would be mass production, destruction of the earth, and money.
The fact that Kahlo is in the center of the painting does not suggest any common ground, but rather speaks, it would seem, of some internal struggle within Kahlo as she sees her nation influenced and perhaps destroyed by the United States. She is clearly
Her paintings represented “the cultural nationalism of [Mexico]” (Meadows). She had a strong artistic style in which she showed her Mexican patriotism and her communist ideals. In addition, she also made political statements on the U.S. and the industrialization.
Its vibrant blue color puts the viewer at ease, making the painting appear to be a tranquil and peaceful scene. As the observer’s eyes drift downward, they see the chaos as the Texans slowly lose the battle. At the top of the left building, a Mexican flag flutters in the wind, and to the right, another Mexican flag raises as the Texas flag is tossed to the ground. Through all this, at the bottom of the painting, hope is still shown: the Texans will not give up. Patriotism is shown as although they are outnumbered and their flag is lowered, they are still fighting. On the right side, it shows a man much larger than the others, shooting a man holding a Mexican flag. This figure represents patriotism in the physical form, and the observer can assume this man is an important figure in the battle of the
In this essay, I will be discussing how two famous artists from different times and cultures have created aesthetic qualities in artworks, communicated ideas and developed styles. Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso have been chosen to express two very different art styles and how both artists use elements and principles to create a distinct quality artwork. Although Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso come from different parts of the world and have different cultural backgrounds, both artists have practiced and explored portraiture as a way of making art.
She is shown as a goddess with a Bald Eagle which clearly represents the United States of America. This image also implies the fall of the British. In addition, it shows the goddess as youthful. I believe this shows the Americans as youthful and a country that is just being established.
Frida Kahlo was a half-mexican, half-hungarian painter of the 20th century born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón in Coyoacán, Mexico City on July 6, 1907. During her short lived life, she had many accomplishments. She was a surrealist artist whos paintings reflected her thoughts and feelings. Her creative style was always amazing but confusing. Unfortunately, she lived most of her artistic life in the shadow of her husband, Diego Rivera, and her work was not truly recognized until after her death.
Another symbolic image in this mural is the bald eagle. In America, it is also a way of displaying freedom because that is the emblem of our nation. The last main symbol in this mural is the Native American woman because Native Americans were here in the land we call as the United States. They were nomads who traveled throughout the country and even beyond the country since there were no border or a sign displaying if they can pass or not. They were just free to go anywhere with no problem at all. Overall the whole message of this powerful mural is that migrating is natural for the reason that animals and human beings have been migrating since the beginning of time. In other words, they had freedom to migrate from place to place. This message can be connected towards the Latino community because many of them come to America to start a new life where they can have opportunities for themselves and their family. But coming to America, is not allowed without having papers since it is illegal and what Levi Ponce is saying in his mural is that they should come without having a problem because they just want their life change for the
A beautiful dark-skinned brunette stands before you. Her long, flowing hair beautifully frames her sweet face and demure smile. Yards of richly colored clothing adorn her tall, slender frame. Rays of sunlight appear from behind, emphasizing pure beauty. Her hands are joined together and she holds them at her chest in worship or, perhaps, in gratitude. Who is she, or rather, who do you see? Practicing Catholics all over Central and South America see a venerated patron saint. In Mexico, she is immediately recognizable as symbolic mother of a nation, ‘nuestra madre.’ New generations of mestizos see a symbol of all that is woman, as real and complex as their mothers, sisters, daughters, and lovers.
In Frida Kahlo’s painting My Grandparents, My Parents and Me, Kahlo shows what it is like for a family in the Mexican culture. Kahlo’s painting conveys the preconceived notions of being conscious of your roles in the family, for instance, the painting displays that the woman is supposed to marry, have a child, raise the child and have the family of her own. It also displays the family lineage and what a woman or man aspires to be in life.
But, it mainly reflects a man helping his wife to cross the river following the flash light issued by the hands of Our Lady of Guadalupe, behind them is an immigration lawyer, which is the one that should be helping both of them. The rest of the mural shows the traditions of all the Mexican population, for example: the priest is organizing a party for the children with balloons, and a big red hearth, which is Jesus’s hearth. Next to him is a peculiar dancer denominated “Matachin” in Spanish, who dance for religious purposes to venerate God. At the center of this mural is attached a picture of God, it is in the middle because it is the inspiration and speak for the faith of all those people. Giving as a result the motivation for all the Hispanic people to maintain all of those traditions, no matter if they are already in this
The wall represents the barrier between U.S. and Mexico, a barrier between not only countries but people as well. The wall merging with the hill represents that this self-constructed barrier will be instrumental to the future. The path is a symbol of the political stances the countries are taking. The merging of the two paths show that this fate is to be shared by both the U.S. and Mexico. The clouds represent the future, the darkening of the clouds symbolizes the bleak outcomes to be expected should this route be continued. The yellow and brown weeds demonstrate the toxic and decayed relations between the U.S. and Mexico. The way hills eventually lead to mountains suggest that conditions will worsen until there is a mountain that Mexico and the U.S. cannot bypass together or alone right now. The light offers a dim glimpse of relief and hope against the crushing atmosphere of the environment. Individually, each part has a very clear
”Image in a self portrait generally communicates to the viewer information about the identity, character, environment, feelings and interests of the artist.” In the case if “Between the Borderline of Mexico and The United States” Frida Kahlo expresses her feeling that she holds towards hr alien environment, and her cultural identity. This will now be proven through analyzing the portrait to prove the above quote.
Frida Kahlo's influence still lingers around the world. Even with Frida dead for almost two decades, she is still celebrated and thought of as an idol. Frida Kahlo was an artist in many different ways. Besides Frida's incredible talent to paint surrealist thoughts and emotions on canvas, she also was and artist in her mind and body. Frida's attire of traditional Mexican clothing, which consisted of long, colorful dresses and exotic jewelry, and her thick connection eyebrows, became her trademark. To the public, Frida Kahlo appeared to be full of spirit and joy. She walked through life happily, with a smile glued to her face. However, her feelings of anguish, anger, unhappiness of her painful miscarriages, and
Frida Kahlo is a world-renowned Mexican painter known for her shocking self-portaits filled with painful imagery. Her artwork was seen by many as surrealist and socialist, but she refused the labels put on herself. Until today, her works have been able to exude the same playful and wild feel as before (Fisher n.p). Her legacy as a painter has attracted prominent people like Madonna who has confessed her admiration for the painter. Not only that but fashion designers are frequently inspired by her iconic Tijuana dresses while her paintings have been priced at more than three million dollars (Bauer 115).
4. Frida Kahlo essentially became an international cultural icon, honored by many people, especially in Mexico. Her artwork withholds visual symbolism of all kinds of emotional and physical pain and most importantly she incorporated indigenous culture and her depiction of the female experience. Including illustrating the feelings of death, loneliness, pain, including the pain of miscarriages, failed marriage, and the aftermath of tragic accidents. Through her imagery, she was able to portray her life experiences. She would include specific elements that symbolized something greater. Throughout the process of analyzing all different aspects of Frida Kahlo’s paintings, it provided a deeper understanding to each painting.
The painting is of two versions of Frida Kahlo, closely gripping hands and sharing one heart between them. They are dressed in contrary clothing, with the Frida on the left dressed in modern European garb, while the other to the right is in traditional Mexican clothing. When viewing the painting, we are immediately attracted to the left Frida, who has nearly all of the light in the painting shining down on her. Her European clothing, popular in Mexico at the time, feels very constricting for both the subject and the viewer,specifically the collar grasping her neck so very tightly. Her upright and fragile stance and her almost limp grasp of the second Frida’s is understandable as we see the gaping hole where her heart should be. The pulsating anatomy of her wound bleeds into the room, while her face is completely indifferent. A single vein connects the hole in left Frida to the heart of right Frida. In left Frida’s unclenched hand, a delicate pair of scissors, indicating that she had wretched the heart out of her own bosom. It is this connection that guides us to the Frida to the right, but not before we notice the background behind them. A gray and cloudy backdrop that seems to embody Kahlo’s emotional state at the time, it is hard to distinguish the right Frida from its murky depths. A shadow presiding all around her, the right Frida is dressed in a traditional Mexican dress, with a posture and facial expression completely identical to the other Frida’s. The most eye-catching feature of hers, however, is the pulsating heart that the left Frida is lacking beating out of her chest. This gruesome and oblivious picture is made only more extraordinary when we make out the object right Frida is