During the periods of 1938, Frida Kahlo painted an art. The painting by Frida depicted a picture of a small little girl which was believed to be herself as she was at an age of four years wearing a mask of the skull. The skull mask that she wore on her head was a tradition at the festivals which were annually held in Mexico commonly referred as ‘The Day of the Dead’ whereby the Mexicans celebrated out their dead instead of mourning on them. It is smart, has interesting history and lessons.
The little girl is holding up a blossom on her hands which is yellow in colour and it resembles the tagete bloom used by the Mexicans to put on the graves of the dead during their festivals. The little girl stands on a vast and empty field under the sky which is gloomy alone and confident. On her feet, she wears a wooden carved tiger mask which is seen to resemble another one hanged on Frida’s dining room in her house. Both of this masks are not fit for the little girls and they symbolize the cruelty of the destiny.
The painting is also known to be interpreted as a symbolic life which Frida lived during her profound and feelings. The subtitle of the painting was that She Plays Alone since the picture of the painting was alone and desperate. This shows the lonely life that Frida lived known to have sorrows. She also had so many health problems as a result of the accident that she underwent while she was a child caused by the isolated life that she lived. Her marriage was tumultuous increasing the emotional suffering in her life. This life seemed to be of sorrowful with a lot of stress which is not heath for one to live.
The little girl was isolated in the painting as Frida’s life was isolated. This isolation on the painting is felt through the use of the background of the painting and a wide space seen to be open on the painting. The landscape of the painting suggests out a seclusion with a vastness on it and the cloudy sky with broodiness. This is a message and from the message, it is clear to say that isolated life is not a good life to live due to its impacts.
According to illustrations and descriptions of the painting, Frida seems to have used the best painting tools. The most common tools that were available in 1938 for Frida to use brushes, drop clothes, caulking tools, cleaning supplies, safety equipment, solvent and removers, draw wall compound and spray equipment. These tools enable in painting the art that communicates a lot in feelings and emotions.
The painting is so famous that it is displayed in both Paris and New York since 1938. Its history is very interesting as it passes around different hands. Frida gifted the art to the best actress by that time. Later, after been given as a gift, it was taken as a part of the private collection in California. Today, the art of painting is displayed in a museum of Nagoya City Art in Japan. From this art, Frida received a lot of recognition for her symbolic and emotional paintings including the Girl with Death Mask up to today.
In conclusion, the art of the Girl with Death Mask by Frida has an important message on feelings and emotions. From that, it is clear to conclude that leaving a lonely and isolated life is not a good idea. People should live as one family and support each other in all ways of life.
Works Cited
Givhan, Jennifer. Girl with Death Mask. 2018.
Greenhaw, Wayne. My Heart Is in the Earth: True Stories of Alabama and Mexico. River City Pub, 2001.
Kennedy, X J, and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Pearson, 2013.
McQueen, Donna. Painting. Sea to Sea Publications, 2006.
Thomas, Isabel. Painting. Heinemann Library, 2012.
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