The Broken Column Frida Kahlo Analysis

Oxford English Dictionary defined autobiography as “an account of a person's life written by that person”. What it did not mention is that writing an autobiography requires plenty of leisure time, good education, wealth and access to books. As the world changes by time, situation changes too. Autobiographical statement of many different classes, ethnic backgrounds which also includes the deprived are accessible in various written forms and even as works of art.

In an article written by novelist and travel writer, Paul Theroux “The Trouble with Autobiographies” he stated that autobiographies are invariably misleading. The concept of a self-conscious and the autobiographical genre are interconnected social constructions. Hence, what are the

She is well known for her self-portraits which are not in a form of narcissistic perspective, but instead it is the representation of her inner thoughts that are hidden and the ups and downs of her life. Kahlo suffered numerous complications in her life since she was a child. Hence, her experience and memories influenced her unconscious which then leads to her creativity. Kahlo depicted herself on a deserted island with her torso wide open to reveal her broken spine as an ionic column. The nails pierced on her body could represent the emotional and physical pain she faced. This painting is a desperate cry of pain but Kahlo is not ashamed of whom she is and what she has gone through. Her past has made her into the artist that she is; she transformed her experience and memories into passion on canvas. Her self-portrait is exaggerated by herself and not depicted in a realistic way. Audience who does not have an idea on Kahlo’s past will question if the painting is being literal or fiction or whether it should be taken literally. As Rebecca West once wrote “Everyone realizes that one can believe little of what people say about each other, but it is not so widely realized that even less can one trust what people say about