Description of the painting by Frida Kahlo “Broken column”

Description of the painting by Frida Kahlo Broken column

Self-portrait written by Frida Kahlo during the post-accident recovery period. Her health deteriorated markedly in 1944. The unbearable pain in the spine caused her to wear a steel corset. Forced to endure physical and mental pain of loneliness, she found the strength to paint pictures. That is why the self-portrait is very different from the other works of the artist. Frida liked to use in her work a riot of colors, which is absent in this self-portrait.

The painting depicts an exhausted, defenseless, but courageous and resilient Frida. The image fully describes its state at the time of writing. The body of a defenseless, fragile, tortured girl’s pain is chained in a corset. Semi-nude heroine, stands in the desert, which hangs stormy sky. The lifelessness of nature depicted reflects loneliness and powerlessness. The earth is broken down into dark gaps, the outlines of which are similar to the fracture on the body.

The fault line on the body offers a view of the crumbling Ionic column. In this very fragile design holds the corset. Looking at the picture, it seems that only thanks to these white straps of the corset keeps the column. The elements borrowed from the iconography give a special drama to the picture: a white cloth wrapped around the hips, similar to the shroud of Christ, a lot of nails pierced all over the body and face of the heroine, resembling Saint Sebastian’s torment. These elements add to the expressiveness of the picture and convey the tragedy of the plot to the viewer.

Tears flow down the cheeks of the heroine. Kahlo did not tend to lose heart, therefore she treated ironically with what was happening to her. Self-portrait has its secret message to the viewer. In the pupils of the character you can see tiny white doves that symbolize peace and hope.


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Description of the painting by Frida Kahlo “Broken column”