Hi everyone!
We haven’t had a Pretty Lady post around here in awhile, so here’s some beauty to start your Friday off right!
Who: Frida Kahlo
Why she’s beautiful inside and out: Frida was an incredible painter, most known for her self-portraits and surrealistic symbolism. She had a tough life; a traffic accident when she was a teenager left her with permanent injuries that caused her great pain and eventually put her in a wheel chair. It was while she was bedridden after this accident that Frida began to paint.
Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird
Although married to a man, painter Diego Rivera, Frida was bisexual and had numerous affairs with women, including Josephine Baker.
I love Frida because of her passion for her art, and her unabashed exploration of female sexuality and power. Also, the woman wasn’t afraid to wear a suit, and she rocked some serious facial hair. Many of her paintings grapple with gender issues. (When I taught an art class to 3-5th graders, I used Frida as an artist to emulate when they were working on self-portraits. Unfortunately they couldn’t get past her mustache to pay any attention to the lesson, which I think says a lot about the age at which gender roles are so firmly ingrained in the minds of kids, as well as the degree to which Frida broke down gender barriers by not conforming to expectations of the feminine.)
If you haven’t seen it, I recommend the Salma Hayek film Frida for more information about her life (as well as a really enjoyable, though heart-breaking, movie experience.)
Here, watch a lesbian tango scene from the movie:
What do you think of today’s Pretty Lady?
femme on a mission 
I just saw this movie the other night! It was so good. I have always been a fan of her work. After learning more about her life it is easy to see the meanings behind her paintings. A truly talented and remarkable woman!!
xx
Julie this blog is amazing!!!!!!