Mexico In My Pocket

Yesterday, it was especially exciting for me to finally see Frida’s Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940), which she painted shortly after her divorce from Diego in 1939.

As I stared into her eyes, I understood her pain.

She didn’t need to tell me about the affairs — the long strands of hair spilled everywhere were her confession.

When I took an even closer look, I noticed her suit was way too big. It devoured her frame.

I wondered if it was Diego’s — perhaps a metaphor for his dominance.

In the painting, she also wrote the lyrics of a popular Mexican folk song —

“Mira que si te quise fue por el pelo.
Ahora que estás pelona, ya no te quiero.”

“Look, if I loved you, it was because of your hair. Now that you are without hair, I don’t love you anymore.”

Kahlo is said to have promised to support herself financially during this time by selling her own work, according to .

Frida’s honest storytelling is refreshing. Society tells women to hide their pain, but Frida shares her truth.

And thanks to her, we feel seen. 🇲🇽