The artwork “Pitahayas” was created by the esteemed artist Frida Kahlo in the year 1938. It is executed in oil on metal, emblematic of her varied use of materials. This piece exemplifies the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement, recognized for its simplistic and unsophisticated visual appeal that conveys elemental artistic virtues. The still life painting’s dimensions are modest, measuring at 25.4 by 35.6 centimeters. Currently, it is housed at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States.
The artwork portrays a vibrant scene that includes sliced and whole pitahaya fruits—also known as dragon fruits—displayed prominently in the foreground, with their vivid red exteriors and speckled flesh providing a stark contrast. Accompanying these fruits is a cactus and a leaf that provide textural and color depth to the composition. The background features a barren, rocky landscape with a surrealist element—a skeletal figure holding what appears to be a scythe or a painting tool. This skeletal representation, often associated with Mexican cultural motifs such as Día de Muertos, brings a sense of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life to the otherwise lush and vital display of fruit. The juxtaposition of life and death is a recurring theme in Kahlo’s work, capturing both the vibrancy and the fragility of existence.
