The artwork “Portrait of Luther Burbank” was painted by the prominent artist Frida Kahlo in the year 1931. This piece was created using oil on masonite, a testament to Kahlo’s eclectic choice of materials. The dimensions of the piece are 87 x 62 cm, and it stands as a representation of the portrait genre. Infused with elements of Naïve Art (Primitivism) and Surrealism, the painting currently resides in the Dolores Olmedo Collection in Mexico City, Mexico.
In this striking portrayal, Frida Kahlo presents the figure of Luther Burbank, an esteemed American horticulturist and botanist, known for his plant breeding advancements. Burbank is depicted standing upright, his body welded to the trunk of a plant, suggesting his integration and oneness with the natural world he so fervently manipulated and improved. At his feet, the exposed roots of the plant are merged with a human skeleton, while another plant appears to sprout from this hybrid base, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
The backdrop is a poignant landscape that resonates with elements both barren and fertile. This encapsulates the transformative power of Burbank’s botanical endeavors, with hills and trees appearing in various states of growth and vitality. Dark, contemplative skies loom above, creating a somber, reflective mood over the scene. Kahlo’s rendition of Burbank invites a contemplation of humanity’s connection to, and impact upon, the rhythms of nature, skillfully interweaving biological motifs with symbolic imagery that provokes thought on human existence and environmental manipulation.
