Frida Kahlo Essay

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"Psychoanalysis itself is a form of therapy which aims to cure mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious elements in the mind." (Barry:96)

1.1. Background and aims of study

The aim of the research is to examine and investigate Frida Kahlo's 'Self-portraits', supported by the same philosophy and psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud. The essay will also elucidate how the use of Freud theories can persuade further sagacity into her self-portraits. In the end meaning is produced based on Freud's main notion of the unconscious and the idea of repression. I found it arduous to discrete Kahlo's life from her artwork, considering that her artworks are predominantly autobiographical I will make use of them to accompaniment my findings.

3.1. Theorist

The essay will allude theorist Sigmund Freud. Freud, a Viennese neurologist was one of the most influential writers of the previous century and was admired for his wit, intellect, and willingness to revise and improve his theories as his clinical experience grew. A disorder that was particularly common during the late 1800 s was hysteria, the presences of physical problems in the absence causes. Freud used hypnosis to help …show more content…

At the age of 6 she was suffering polio. This illness cause Kahlo to be crippled. The maiming caused pain for the rest of her life. At the age of 18 in 1925, Frida was in an awful bus accident. She broke her collar-bone, two ribs and her left shoulder was put out of place. Both her pelvis and spinal column were ruptured in three places. Her survival was a miracle. Returning back home to her normal life, the psychological and physical results were esoteric. Her personal experiences, desires and frustrations were reflected in her self-portraits. Hidden symbols and personal ideas were seen in her artworks intelligibly evident in her work was the Mexican culture which had a vast impacted on her.

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