Frida Kahlo is famous for her self-portraits. Often, she depicts her likeness as an expressionless mask yet fills her paintings with symbolic images. Why does she do this? What is the meaning of the symbolism used by Frida Kahlo in The Two Fridas. (28.51)?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Symbolism in Frida Kahlo’s “The Two Fridas”
Frida Kahlo, the renowned Mexican artist, is celebrated for her emotive self-portraits that blur the lines between reality and symbolism. In works like “The Two Fridas,” Kahlo masterfully combines elements of her own likeness with symbolic imagery to convey profound personal and universal themes. By exploring the reasons behind her use of expressionless masks and delving into the symbolism in “The Two Fridas,” we can uncover the deeper meanings embedded in Kahlo’s art.
The Expressionless Mask: A Window to the Soul
Frida Kahlo’s choice to depict herself with an expressionless mask in her self-portraits serves as a deliberate artistic strategy to convey complex emotions and inner turmoil. By presenting herself with a neutral or stoic expression, Kahlo invites viewers to look beyond the surface and into the depths of her psyche. This technique allows her to explore themes of pain, resilience, and identity without relying on conventional facial expressions. The expressionless mask becomes a mirror reflecting the innermost thoughts and feelings of the artist, inviting viewers to engage with the raw and unfiltered aspects of her being.
The Symbolism in “The Two Fridas”
In “The Two Fridas,” painted in 1939, Kahlo presents a dual self-portrait featuring two versions of herself sitting side by side. One Frida is dressed in a Tehuana costume, representing her Mexican heritage, while the other Frida wears a Victorian-style white dress, symbolizing her European ancestry. This dual portrayal reflects Kahlo’s exploration of her mixed identity and the internal conflict between her different cultural influences.
The symbolism in “The Two Fridas” extends beyond the dual representation of identity to encompass themes of love, pain, and loss. The two figures are connected by a vein that leads to a small portrait of Diego Rivera, Kahlo’s husband and fellow artist. This vein symbolizes the emotional and physical bond between Kahlo and Rivera, highlighting the complexities of their tumultuous relationship. The exposed heart on the traditional Frida’s lap further underscores themes of vulnerability and emotional openness.
Unraveling the Layers of Meaning
“The Two Fridas” serves as a poignant expression of Frida Kahlo’s innermost struggles and desires, encapsulating themes of identity, love, and cultural heritage. Through her use of symbolic imagery and dual self-portraiture, Kahlo invites viewers to contemplate the multifaceted nature of the self and the interconnectedness of personal history and emotion. The painting stands as a testament to Kahlo’s ability to transform her pain and suffering into powerful works of art that resonate with audiences across time and space.
In conclusion, Frida Kahlo’s “The Two Fridas” exemplifies her mastery of symbolism and self-expression, offering a window into her inner world and the complexities of her identity. Through her use of expressionless masks and symbolic imagery, Kahlo transcends mere portraiture to create deeply personal and universally resonant works of art. “The Two Fridas” stands as a testament to Kahlo’s enduring artistic legacy and her ability to convey profound truths through the language of symbolism.
