Human Resilience: Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird

Frida Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”: a Universal Narrative of Human Resilience

Frida Kahlo, the renowned Mexican artist, was a pioneer in the artistic use of self-portraits to depict diverse life complexities. She is known for her stark self-portraits that blended realism and symbolism in an intimate investigation of identity, suffering, and resilience. Among her numerous noticeable works, the “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”, which was completed in 1940, demonstrates Kahlo's powerful imagination as well as her ability to depict the deepest aspects of human existence through her art (Anderson, 2023). The image shows a gloomy Kahlo wearing a thorn necklace that pierces her neck and spills blood, representing the immense suffering and sacrifice that shaped her identity. Therefore, through vivid symbolism, composition and honest expression of pain and suffering, Kahlo translates her suffering, both physical and emotional, as well as the struggle with cultural identity, into a universal narrative of human resilience.

Symbolism and Composition

Through her skilful symbolism, Kahlo’s painting takes us behind the scenes of her soul and the intricate manner in which she tackled feelings and life's complexity. She is depicted wearing her trademark eyebrows and eyes, which look like they do not have any expressions. Other than this, she is also depicted with the thorn necklace around her neck, cutting into it, which triggers the bleeding (See Appendix). This can be seen in the contrast between the hummingbird hovering near her heart, a symbol of life's beauty and resilience, which gave her strength even during the most horrible times. Kahlo beautifully utilizes symbolism to unveil the deeper hidden truths of her life and her inner self.

The duality of these two different elements, the thorns and the hummingbird, symbolizes the very nature of Kahlo's existence, a permanent equilibrium between pain and resilience, despair and hope. Anderson notes, "the thorn necklace, a symbol of life's prickly nature, and the delicate hummingbird, an emblem of fragility, converge in a visual narrative that transcends the canvas" (Anderson, 2023). Therefore, this thorn necklace makes her feelings of pain and sorrow even stronger, both physically and mentally. At the same time, the hummingbird, which is a symbol of vitality and resilience in Mexican culture, shows her unwavering spirit and her ability to find solace amidst difficulties.

In addition, as stated by Turkheimer et al., in their quantitative color analysis of Kahlo's self-portraits, her use of reddish hues, suggestive of blood and pain, demonstrates her physical suffering. However, they also include the strong emergence of green tones, which imply life, nature, and the ability to regenerate, showing the resilience of the hummingbird (Turkheimer et al., 2022). Therefore, by means of color and symbolism, Kahlo builds a kind of visual language that allows her to express her feelings of being multifaceted.

Finally, the background of dense tropical greenery is an indicator of the dualism of the composition, symbolizing the deep roots of Kahlo in her Mexican heritage and nature. The vivacious greens and green leaves, which, in turn, remind one of life and rejuvenation, are in complete contrast with the sad tones of the thorns and the dead hummingbird (See Appendix). As FridaKahlo.org states, "Frida Kahlo put so many symbolic creatures in this painting. She was not painting a realistic scene but using these symbolic elements to express her feelings” (FridaKahlo.org, n.d). Kahlo employs personal iconography to invite viewers to take a glimpse into her journey and admire the indomitable human spirit, personal story, and artistic creation.

Personal Narrative and Artistic Expression

“Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and the Hummingbird” is one of the stories of Kahlo’s life, which is presented through the painting where she shows all the physical and mental scars she experienced throughout her life. The thorn necklace, with the sting on her neck, represents the constant pain and multiple surgeries that she underwent after the bus accident that not only marred her physical appearance but also altered the course of her life (See Appendix). As mentioned by Courtney et al., Kahlo was subjected to numerous physical and psychological abuses, most of which resulted in various complications, including long-term pain and disability (Courtney et al., 2017). The thorn necklace is a powerful representation of this cruel torture and notes that to Frida, there is similar imagery in the passion of Christ that puts her suffering in perspective. On the other hand, the dead hummingbird, which also symbolizes love and life in Mexican culture, is indicative of her ordeal with her husband, Diego Rivera, whose unfaithfulness and betrayal almost broke her completely.

Nevertheless, her dominion in pain and suffering in this self-portrait helps to notice her brave look, especially with the addition of the hummingbird and greenery, which underlines that she still seeks love and peace in the midst of adversity. Hence, she used this art as an instrument to take back her agency, proclaim that she was in charge of her story, and, thereby, challenge the role that society assigned her by confronting her suffering head-on.

Artistic Legacy and Cultural Impact

Through her self-portraits, Frida Kahlo made one of the greatest contributions to the cultural legacy and remains an eternal muse due to the global significance of art and the symbolic nature of her work. This artwork is not just a portrait of a woman but the representation of something that goes beyond the concept of a portrait and the story of individuality and emotionality, as well as the struggle against stereotypical views on gender and roles. As Buccolo rightly observes, Kahlo boldly portrayed her psychological and physical sufferings, her sincerity and defiance, and her Indigenous and Mexican roots, thus creating a path for future artists to express their identities and engage with social and political themes in their artwork (Buccolo, 2023). Furthermore, she encouraged people to be truthful and to employ art as a way of self-creation and social critique. Moreover, her paintings have turned into universal messages of courage and perseverance over the adversities that are relevant to generations and cultures today. Her determination to pave the way and fight for women's rights and society at large, coupled with her unyielding spirit of portraying the true self, has been embraced across the world.

In a nutshell, “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and the Hummingbird” by Frida Kahlo goes beyond the conventional understanding of the portrait and art in general. The painting is a depiction of pain and strength that enables the audience to be witnesses to the artist’s personal narrative. At the same time, it is an embodiment of the unbreakable spirit that assists the artist in conquering the unbelievable. In this aspect, Kahlo used her artistic vision in the most symbolic manner and by fearlessly painting her physical and emotional pain, she made a clear reference to the human spirit and the ability to find beauty and calm in the storm and transform personal suffering into art. Besides, the painting can be interpreted as an indication of Frida Kahlo’s eternal celebrity, her refusal to surrender to what is fake, and the eternal imprint of the outstanding artist in the cultural domain. Hence, the legacy of Frida Kahlo is more than just the paintings that she left behind; it is embossed in the life that she led and the changes she brought about. With this painting, she will continue to raise consciousness, bring hope, teach people about themselves, and help us withstand the daily struggles of life.

Appendix

Frida Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird”