The Broken Column Analysis

317 Words2 Pages
One of Kahlo’s most memorable paintings is the personal 1944 piece “The Broken Column”. Regarded as one of her most meaningful pieces, it features Kahlo standing naked, crying and alone against a barren backdrop, her chest split in two to reveal a cracked column where her spine should be. Kahlo uses earthy red tones to bring her figure forward against the cooler background, accentuating the darkness of her skin as an acknowledgement to her Mexican and Indian heritage. Her bare chest is encased in a hospital corset, winding up her body to her shoulders. Nails pierce her skin and the hospital gown covering her waist, standing out starkly against the flatter surfaces due to their detail. The horizon of her backdrop meets the sky in a straight