Tree of hope, Keep Firm

Frida Kahlo
1946
Oil Paint on Masonite
55.9 x 40.6 cm

Description
This painting is divided into two sides. One side is
Frida laying on a hospital bed wrapped in a sheet
facing away with two wounds exposed on her
back. On the other side, Frida is sitting up right in a
wooden chair in a traditional Spanish dress holding
a flag with a message written in Spanish. The flag
reads, árbol de la esperanza mantente firme,
meaning “tree of hope, keep firm”. She is also
holding some sort of contraption meant for your
torso, like a corset. You can also see she is
wearing the same torso piece from the two
attachments at the top of her chest. On the side
where one Frida is lying down, it is sunny with a
cloudy sky. On the side where Frida is sitting
upright, it has a darker hue with a dark cloudy sky.
You can also see there are many cracks on a
almost desert looking ground. The cracks from the
left, sunny side follow through and are connected
to the cracks on the right (darker side) creating
unity.

Analysis:
The principal of art that is prominent in this piece of work is Variety. Frida uses both Contrast
and Emphasis to accentuate different aspects of this painting. The elements of art that she uses
to accent these principals are colour and space. There is distinct contrast in colour in the two
different sides of the painting with the darker and lighter side. This is almost contradicting
because usually the brighter side is happier but in this case, it looks as though she is in more
pain and on the darker side, she sits almost proudly and sits up without a display of pain on her
face. Her bright red dress also stands out against the dark background drawing attention to it.
The sun and moon on both the right and left sides stand out against the background which is
the sky. The use of space puts emphasis on the two Frida’s displayed in the centre. The Frida
on the left laying down on the brighter side takes up less space. The white sheet with yellowish
hue slightly blends in wit the cracked ground behind her. On the other hand, the Frida on the
right takes up more space and the bright colour of the red dress helps to emphasize that side.
The colour choice of red is also strategic to help Frida to give a message.

Interpretation:
I believe that in this painting Frida is trying to tell her story of her recovery after her bus
accident. Beginning with the two sides and the placement of the Frida’s. On the left side, it looks
as though Frida has just been wheeled out of the operating room after her botched surgery
which included many complications. The big slashes and wounds on her back is a metaphor
and almost mimic the cracked desert ground behind her. While on the left there is a prominent
display of pain, on the right there are strong signs of power and hope. One thing that stands out
tremendously is her red dress. Red is a colour of strength and power which is portrayed in
Frida’s stance and facial expression. It can also be a symbol of anger which could be due to the
botched surgery that the left Frida was just released from. Behind her is also a moon. The moon
is a sign of womanhood and femininity which ties into the idea of strength. She is also holding a
sign that reads “tree of hope, keep firm”. In the other hand she is holding a corset. These two
objects could be connected almost portraying the message that she one day hopes to no longer
have to wear the corset to aid her. Behind the stretcher that one of the Frida’s is laying on, there
seems to be a large hole that is the length of the hospital stretcher. Almost similar to the hole
which is dug out for the burying of a casket. This could be symbolizing how this surgery was the
beginning of her health decreasing leading to death.

Cultural Context:
Frida Kahlo was apart of the Surrealism movement which began in the 1920’s. She was a
surrealist. Art in this movement has the use of dream like images, symbolism or even a collage
of images. In Frida’s painting, she uses many of these qualities. For example, the cracked
desert ground is symbolizing the big wounds on her back. The moon and sun in the background
of each half of the painting is almost dream like and whimsical in a gloomy way. Frida also likes
to express her Mexican culture through most of her paintings. In her work, you will often see her
painted in her cultural, Spanish dresses and her language is integrated into her pieces. You can
see both these things in her paintings. On the right side of this painting, you can see both those
things added to the piece. Frida paints which her heart, with feeling, telling stories of what is
happening in her current life through a canvas. “They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I
never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” - Frida Kahlo

Aesthetic Judgment:
Personally, I really like this painting. There is a lot of meaning behind this piece and I enjoyed
discovering more about it and deciphering it to understand the deeper meaning that is hidden
beneath the vibrant colours. I love the concept of splitting the painting in half to almost tell two
stories and showing two perspectives which could range from look verses feelings, to current
state verses hope for the future. Looking at more of the elements of art, I liked the use of colour
and the dark hue she laid over the right half of this painting. Enough darkness was added to
enable you to see it clearing but get the message across to the viewer.

Sources:
https://www.fridakahlo.org/link.jsp
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kahlo-frida.htm

Image:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28433765@N07/4308193499