“The Suicide of Dorothy Hale” is an emotionally charged artwork created by the celebrated artist Frida Kahlo in 1938. The medium used is oil on masonite, and the dimensions of the artwork are 60.4 x 48.6 cm. Recognized as a genre painting, it resonates with the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix, AZ, US, is the custodian of this significant piece.
The artwork depicts the tragic event of Dorothy Hale’s suicide by showing her falling from a building. It is framed within a theatrical structure, resembling a stage, emphasizing the dramatic nature of the scene. The background is dominated by cloudy skies, which surrounds a stylized representation of a tall building. Below this central event, the aftermath is illustrated by the presence of Hale’s lifeless body lying on the ground, her dress appearing to flow outward and a noticeable pool of blood beside her head.
The bottom of the painting contains text in Spanish, a narrative component that serves as Kahlo’s own interpretation or epitaph for Dorothy Hale’s demise. The artist’s name is inscribed at the end of the inscription, further personalizing the artwork. The stark and impactfully direct nature of the depiction conveys the seriousness and pain associated with Hale’s death, offering an intimate and perhaps controversial homage to her life. The colors, composition, and narrative elements combine to create a powerful visual commentary by Frida Kahlo on this mournful event.
