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Henry Ford Hospital Analysis

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This is a critical analysis of the painting Henry Ford Hospital by Frida Kahlo. This artwork consists of oil paint on a tin canvas. It was painted in Detroit, Michigan after she had one of her many miscarriages. Today it can be found in the Collection of Museo Dolores Olmedo in Xochimilco, Mexico (Esaak). This analysis will describe the elements of design, principles of design, and the reason Kahlo created this artwork. Frida used many different elements of design. For example, there are curvilinear lines to symbolize umbilical cords coming from her body to the six objects floating around her. The diagonal lines suggest movement from the center of the piece outwards. There is also a very distinct horizontal line the separate the …show more content…

For instance, the item at top left shows the anatomy and the complexity of being pregnant (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, Frida). The baby boy in the middle of the painting symbolizes the baby Deigo she thought she would never have (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, Frida). The snail shows how slow and agonizing the miscarriage was (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, Frida). The machine in the bottom left was used to symbolize the cold machines they used on her at the hospital (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, Frida). The flower demonstrates the sexuality between her and Diego (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, Frida). The last item you see is the pelvic bone, which represents her broken pelvic bone and the reason she couldn’t conceive a child successfully (Self Portrait as a Tehuana, Autorretrato como Tenhuana, …show more content…

This was one she painted after the Henry Ford Hospital painting; it was painted in 1943. For example, this painting contains curvilinear lines that extend from her, she placed herself in the middle of the painting as the focal point, and it was also inspired by a tragedy (The Art Story). This painting is oil on a canvas and is now in the Collection of Jacques & Natasha Gellman (The Art Story). She painted this art piece in Mexico City, Mexico after one of the many times she caught Diego cheating on her (The Art Story). Not only is the form different from Henry Ford Hospital, the content is different as well. She painted this to represent how much she thinks of Diego. He was always on her mind; that’s why he is painted on her forehead (The Art Story). The curvilinear lines extending from her face are supposed to symbolize a web. It’s the web she wishes she could trap Diego in (The Art Story). The costume she is wearing a traditional Mexican dress that Diego loved. She painted herself wearing it to attract him (The Art

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