Exploring the Symbolism in Frida Kahlo's 'My Birth, 1932'

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Frida Kahlo's painting, 'My Birth, 1932'. The analysis explores the symbolism within the artwork, focusing on themes of birth, death, identity, and suffering. It examines the artist's personal experiences and how they are reflected in her art, highlighting the painting's emotional depth and its place within the context of Kahlo's broader artistic practice. The essay references Kahlo's unique style, which blends elements of realism and surrealism, and discusses the influence of figures like Sigmund Freud on her work. Furthermore, the essay draws parallels between Kahlo's life and art with the life and works of Sylvia Plath, emphasizing the universality of pain and the human condition. The essay also references the artist's biographical details and other significant events in her life, highlighting the emotional and historical context of the painting. The analysis considers the painting's impact and its place in the art world.

Running Head: FRIDA KAHLO AND “MY BIRTH, 1932”
Frida Kahlo and “My Birth, 1932”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1FRIDA KAHLO AND “MY BIRTH, 1932”
When we talk of Frida Kahlo, we are reminded of the bold, unapologetic, and raw
essence of her paintings and her words. It was not different for one of the best creations My
Birth, 1932. Any form is art is never too far removed from its creator. Hence when we take
into account this particular piece of art, it is quite evident that her image of her mother giving
birth to her was not any ordinary incident. Instead, the face of her mother is covered in a
white sheet- symbolic of her mother’s death, both physically and metaphorically. Since with
the birth of the child, a woman undergoes a lot of changes that alter her for the rest of her life.
Above the bed, is the picture of “Virgin of Sorrows” who is almost in tears by seeing the
gruesome process of childbirth (fridakahlo.org).
Although the artist is never far removed from his or her art, the fact that Kahlo’s
creations have stood the test of time and has been able to make a place for itself in the
Literary and artistic canon proves the universality of her creations (Herrera). The birth of
Frida can be a symbol of two significant events of her life. The discovery of her own true
‘self’ that she was able to birth through her paintings and the choice that she makes as a
woman of making the painting her children who are left behind.
Frida Kahlo’s art is almost marked by pain and suffering that mapped out her entire
life. Despite it being a popular opinion that she had taken to painting as a method of dealing
with her pain, it is very apparent that most of her paintings do not urge its viewers to seek for
a cure imperatively (Herrera). Instead, Kahlo uses her artistic creation to simply put forth her
pain and suffering on the canvas with the help of colours. Even though a world that is devoid
of suffering might seem to be a lucrative ideal, it is the presence of pain and suffering in the
human predicament that makes us realise the essence of happiness and its short-lived nature.
Art essentially asks us to be vulnerable as it makes us human and helps us define our
identities. Frida’s art indeed reflects the pain and suffering that she had to endure, however, it
is not just personal experiences and its significance that makes her stand out in the crowd.

2FRIDA KAHLO AND “MY BIRTH, 1932”
While discussing the reflections of a troubled mind in her works, parallels can be drawn from
one of the greatest literary figure who was born on the same year (1932) - Sylvia Plath; her
life was equally tragic and ended abruptly at the age of 30. She left behind a rich collection of
works that is celebrated and cherished among lovers of literature.
Frida Kahlo’s style of art is neither completely surrealistic nor is it completely based
on realism. Nevertheless, she initially rejected the opinion of critics who claimed her
paintings to be surrealistic, after reading Moses and Monotheism by Sigmund Freud, she
painted Moses as her interpretation of the book (Herrera).

3FRIDA KAHLO AND “MY BIRTH, 1932”
Works Cited
fridakahlo.org. "My Birth, 1932 By Frida Kahlo". Fridakahlo.Org, 2020,
https://www.fridakahlo.org/my-birth.jsp.
Herrera, Hayden. Frida: The biography of Frida Kahlo. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018.