Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) was a renowned artist from Mexico, celebrated for her striking and symbolic self-portraits that often depicted her personal struggles. Born in 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico, she spent her childhood in Mexico City.
Her work was heavily influenced by Mexican muralists and indigenous culture, and she developed a distinct style and voice through her self-portraits, which became the focal point of her art.
The Wounded Deer painting was created during a time of great personal disruption for the artist. She had a spinal surgery that left her bedridden for months, and she was struggling with chronic pain and depression.
By looking at the composition structure, subject matter, light and color use, perspective, and symbolism Frida Kahlo applied in creating this artwork, we might gain insight into what made her such a prolific artist.
The painting depicts Frida Kahlo’s head on the body of a deer. The deer is wounded by nine arrows that are still in its body. These wounds are depicted in great detail, with blood spurting out of them.
The nine arrows are slowly killing the deer, representing Frida’s inevitable doom at the demise of her continuous health issues. Furthermore, as often characterized by Frida’s expressions of pain, the symbols of her physical pain also double up as representative of the pain Diego caused her.
The dark background creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, while the bright colors of the wounds draw the viewer’s attention to the focal point of the painting.
The blood and wounds are also depicted with great realism, giving the impression of a real and tangible object. The forest, water, and sky around the deer’s body are also depicted with great detail, adding a sense of delicacy to the painting.
The perspective in the painting is mostly frontal, with the deer being depicted from its side. This creates a sense of immediacy and closeness with the viewer.
Besides the connection to her Mexican roots, the politics in her country at the time, the socio-political state of the world post World War Two, her physical health struggles, emotional pain, and desires to escape the limits of her body.