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Frida's Birth
Frida Kahlo was a famous Mexican artist born in Mexico City on July 6, 1907. -
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Frida Kahlo's Lifespan
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The Mexican Revolution
Kahlo was three years when it happened. Around that time, she later rewrote her birthday to coincide with that date to the beginnings of the Mexican Revolution. It was mainly because she wanted to be a part of the modern Mexican movement. -
Polio Diagnosis
Frida Kahlo contracts polio at the age of six years old, which forms her right leg to become thinner than her left leg. She covered it up by wearing skirts or trousers as well as exercising to regain strength. -
Frida's enrollment in Escuela Nacional Preparatoria
Kahlo enrolled in Mexico’s national prep school, one of their premier schools where it is also an all girl’s school. -
The Bus Accident
Frida Kahlo gets involved in a bus accident that hit a trolley car when she was 18 years old. She survived the accident, but with major injuries like a broken spinal cord, collarbone, ribs, pelvis, right leg, a dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder. Furthermore, an iron handrail pierced through her abdomen and uterus leaving her to never reproduce children. -
Frida's Decision
After her accident, Frida Kahlo abandoned the idea of studying medicine and decided to spend the rest of her life as an artist. She began to paint herself during her three month immobilization. She has painted over 140 pieces of art along with dozens of drawings and studies. A majority of paintings include her self portraits. -
The Wedding of Frida Kahlo
Frida began an intimate relationship with Mexican painter Diego Rivera and eventually married in 1929. However, their relationship is tumultuous and the two often divorced and remarried each other frequently. -
Frida's Ideologies
Kahlo and Rivera were active communists during the late 1930s. Around that time, they befriended Leon Trotsky who fled Russia to receive political asylum in Mexico. Later on, they became supporters of Stalin in 1939. -
Frida's Final Days
In the July of 1952, Frida’s right lower leg had to be amputated at the knee because she had gangrene. She had also got very sick with pneumonia at that time, leaving Diego to take care of Frida during her final years of life. -
Frida's Death
Frida died at the age of 47 in 1954, and was cremated according to her wishes. Her official cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, although some have speculated she may have overdosed either on purpose or accidentally.
