The artwork “Memory (The Heart)” is a notable self-portrait and symbolic painting by Frida Kahlo, a prominent artist known for her unique blend of Naïve Art (Primitivism) and Surrealism. This oil on metal painting was created in 1937 and measures 40 by 28.3 centimeters. It forms part of the Michel Petitjean Collection in Paris, France.
In the artwork, Frida Kahlo presents a deeply personal and introspective scene. She stands at the center, dressed in a white blouse and skirt, with a traditional Tehuana costume on her right and a European-style schoolgirl outfit on her left, both suspended as if on a clothesline. The presence of these two dresses may symbolize the duality of her identity, with her Mexican heritage juxtaposed against the influence of Western culture. Kahlo holds a rod connected to both dresses, possibly alluding to the idea that she bears the weight or responsibility of these two cultural identities.
Behind her, the sky is overcast with tumultuous clouds, likely an indication of the emotional turbulence or sense of foreboding that she felt at the time. Below the garments, at Kahlo’s feet, lies an anatomical depiction of a heart, bleeding onto the ground and into a small puddle that meets the water below the cliff edge on the right. The raw depiction of the heart adds a visceral element to the scene, suggestive of pain, loss, or heartbreak, themes that recur in Kahlo’s work. The contrasting colors, the attention to emotional detail, and the symbolic elements combine to give a vivid window into the complexity of the artist’s emotional state and cultural identity.
