Profile of the Day: Frida Kahlo

On this day in 1907, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was born. Known for her many self-portraits, Kahlo is often regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest artists.

Image: Frida Kahlo / Library of Congress

Kahlo was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacán, Mexico in her family home known as La Casa Azule (The Blue House). She would spend much of her childhood and adult life in the home. Her father, Willhelm “Guillermo” Kahlo, was a German immigrant and her mother, Matilde Calderón, was of Spanish and Native American descent.

In 1925, Kahlo was in a bus accident that left her unable to walk for three months. In order to pass the time, she took to painting and found a passion for it. Throughout her life, she painted at least 143 paintings, nearly a third of which were self-portraits. Through her work, Kahlo explored questions about identity, gender, race, and class. She often used vibrant colors and combined elements of religion and Mexican traditions in her paintings.

Kahlo died on July 13, 1954 at the age of 47. After her death, Kahlo’s work gained even greater public recognition. Today she is one of Mexico’s most celebrated and iconic artists in history.