Frida Kahlo, a 20th-century Mexican artist, is renowned for her self-portraits (Zelazko, 2024). For my analysis, I examine "The Two Fridas" (1939), a work influenced by her divorce from Diego Rivera (www.fridakahlo.org, 2009a). More than a self-portrait, the painting symbolises her fractured identity, using formal elements to make her internal state visible (www.fridakahlo.org, 2009b).
The composition features two Fridas wearing contrasting clothing. One wears a European-style dress and the other a traditional Tehuana dress.
The Two Fridas, 1939 by Frida Kahlo
This contrast is a direct reference to Kahlo’s heritage, a blend of German and Mexican cultures (www.fridakahlo.org, 2002). It is also central to the conflict of Kahlo’s divorce, as Rivera loved her Mexican side but rejected her European side (Bryson, 2023a).
Another key formal element is the symbolism of the exposed hearts. Kahlo expressed that the two figures represent Kahlo’s identity in relation to Rivera. The traditional Mexican attire Frida, whose heart is whole, is the one Rivera loved. Whilst European dress Frida, whose heart is severed, is the one he abandoned (Bryson, 2023b). Kahlo was also known to reference anatomy in her works, which came from an interest in science after she suffered fatal injuries in a bus/ car collision (Art in Context, 2022).
In conclusion, Kahlo’s use of formal elements to illustrate her inner turmoil and fractured identity following her divorce creates a work universally understood. Her heartbreak, heritage, and physical pain resonate with all of us, making her art a powerful expression of human experience.
Reference list
Art in Context (2022). ‘The Two Fridas’ by Frida Kahlo - Studying Frida Kahlo’s Famous Painting. artincontext.org. Available at: https://artincontext.org/the-two-fridas-by-frida-kahlo/ [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
Bryson, M. (2023a). The Two Fridas | History, Description, Style, Analysis, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Two-Fridas [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
Bryson, M. (2023b). The Two Fridas | History, Description, Style, Analysis, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Two-Fridas [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
www.fridakahlo.org (2002). Frida Kahlo Biography. Frida Kahlo. Available at: https://www.fridakahlo.org/frida-kahlo-biography.jsp [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
www.fridakahlo.org (2009a). The Two Fridas, 1939 by Frida Kahlo. FridaKahlo.org. Available at: https://www.fridakahlo.org/the-two-fridas.jsp [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
www.fridakahlo.org (2009b). The Two Fridas, 1939 by Frida Kahlo. FridaKahlo.org. Available at: https://www.fridakahlo.org/the-two-fridas.jsp [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
Zelazko, A. (2024). Frida Kahlo. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].