The painting Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940) by renowned Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, invokes a feeling of emotion and gives off a bold statement with its perfectly constructed expression. A Spanish song lyric sits at the top of the canvas, draping the portrait below. Translated to English, it reads: “See, if I loved you, it was for your hair, now you're bald, I don't love you anymore.” Centered in the middle of the frame, Kahlo sits at attention, with short black hair, and scissors in hand. Kahlo is perched up on a wooden dining room chair, one that reminds you of the style your grandparents would have in their home. She is draped in a dark men's suit that looks big enough to fit three full-sized adults in it. Littered throughout the visible floor are bunches of her thick, wavy, black hair. The strands look like pieces of a wicker broom, broken off and tossed around the room. Kahlo is glaring into your eyes with a piercing glare like she is staring into your soul. The self-portrait is layered with emotion and gives off a sense of relief as Kahlo has just abandoned her feminine image and moved towards a more masculine look; you can feel her giant sigh of relief. Frida Kahlo’s painting Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair is a symbol of independence and a direct challenge to societal gender normalities.
The significant Spanish song lyric at the top of the painting is etched in beautiful cursive that is so elegant it looks like it could be a font on your computer. With translation so powerful and to the point, we can’t help but wonder who the lyrics are about, or who sang the song. You feel like you are in Kahlo’s head, thinking every thought with her, feeling every emotion of the song, and crying out in creative expression. The lyrics are pinned to the top of the page with strands of musical notes blocking them in - the exaggeration of importance, the emphasis on the song - a powerful expression. Calligraphy floating at the top of the frame, with a blue and yellow canvas behind. The canvas looks like watercolors mixing, with no pattern or meaning. Empty and cold; a blank wall without any emotion. Interrupted by one chair, one body, and many strands of hair.
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Kahlo has the look of contentment on her face. She wears it proudly. If a distraction were to present itself, she would not budge. She sits with perfect posture, almost like she has a piece of wood attached to her back. Neck craned towards the viewer with dark black eyes staring at you without a blink. Her eyes look like black pool table balls, perfectly round and solid. Sitting in one of your grandparents '- room table chairs, placed awkwardly in the center of the room, she is surrounded by long black strands of her hair. Bunches hanging from the top of the chair and down to the floor. Holding one thick strand, and perfectly polished chrome scissors on the other hand, we know she is the culprit. Kahlo wears the oversized suit better than a runway model in perfectly fitted clothes. She is showing you that she does not need anyone's confirmation with her demeanor and facial expression. The jacket falls off her shoulders as if there is no frame underneath. Face tight, cheeks rosy-red, and her bushy, black unibrow smashed together - you can feel her forehead lines. Legs firmly planted on the ground, as if they are glued to the surface, wearing shiny black dress shoes, Kahlo sits with her legs slightly open - not your typical feminine sitting position. Her parachute pants mimic the look of an air-filled Halloween costume, puffy and full of space. She is making a bold statement.
After examining the painting, it is obvious that Kahlo has chopped off her own hair. With scissors in her hand and hair scattered throughout the floor, one would ask why. Was she upset with her image? Did she want a fresh start? With a little digging, we find out that Kahlo painted this self-portrait shortly after her divorce from the famous Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera. Kahlo and Rivera wed in 1929, in Mexico City, Mexico; he was 42 and she was 22. After their divorce in 1939, Kahlo constructed this piece to represent her independence and to remove herself from the typical feminine image she often represented. She was repeatedly seen in portraits with her long black hair and feminine dresses. This vast contrast in her outward presentation is an interesting juxtaposition to examine. Famed muralist, David Rivera, was often seen wearing a large black suit, very similar to the one painted on Kahlo in her self-portrait. The painting offers many questions to the viewer, but one thing is certain: Kahlo wanted Rivera to feel her autonomy and understand her sacrifice - she mutilated her hair. Rivera had always admired Kahlo’s hair and she took that away from him. Was Kahlo showing that she no longer needed Rivera’s artistic expertise moving forward? A dramatic show of emotion. Or rather, was she tired of living under his shadows?
Aware of the impact she would have today, or not, Kahlo's powerful self-portrait aligns with today's society. In the age of breaking free from gender barriers and societal normalities, we are reminded of the same struggles others faced throughout their lives. Not only did she strip away her femininity, Kahlo also made a bold statement by constructing this piece in 1940. A beautiful contrast to everyday life in Mexico City. The painting stands as a reminder that these issues have plagued society long before our time, and to minimize one’s struggle today would mean you are discounting the struggle and plight of past generations.
Kahlo was not afraid to expose herself to public opinion and made sure her painting spoke to every viewer. The scissors represented her sacrifice just as much as the expression on her face. The hair tossed around the large empty room goes to show her roller-coaster emotions. Sitting in a suit similar to David Rivera, Frida Kahlo tells us that she is speaking to him, almost as if the jacket was a telepathic line of communication with Rivera. The power, the independence, the bold statement - that's what Frida Kahlo embodied. She defied gender norms in the 1940's and showed us what it meant to speak out, through words or expression, and make a statement. A statement she made - hair chopped, femininity discarded, and a facade of contentment.
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