Frida Kahlo

Vocabulary:

self-portrait: a drawing or painting that an artist does of themselves

contract: to catch a disease

polio: a dangerous disease that can cause paralysis

limp: an uneven way of walking, caused by an injury or illness

recover: to get better after an injury or illness

symbolize: to represent a certain concept

expression: the representation of something in art

Gapfill exercise

painter
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican , best known for her self-portraits. She was born in 1907
in Mexico City. At the age of five, Kahlo contracted polio, which left her with a permanent limp.
Later, as a teenager, she was seriously injured in a bus accident. Throughout her life, Kahlo had
alive
to have surgery often in order to stay and healthy. Because of this, she spent a lot
famous
of time recovering in bed. In fact, many of her most works were painted from her
bed. Though the accident caused a lot of pain in her life, it also inspired much of her artwork.
Almost half of her paintings were self-portraits, most of them meant to symbolize her pain.
inspired
Kahlo’s work has often been classified as surrealism, a style of art that is by
dreams. However, Kahlo disagreed with this, because she had always seen her art as an
health
expression of real life. As Kahlo got older, her got steadily worse. She died in 1954,
when she was only 47. Although Kahlo died young, both her life and her artwork are still
celebrated today.

Comprehension questions

1. Frida Kahlo was best known for painting

a.surrealist scenes

b.self-portraits

c. landscapes

2. Kahlo was left with a limp after

a.recovering from polio

b.the bus accident

c.one of her many surgeries

3. Kahlo died in

a.1907

b.1947

c.1954

Frida Kahlo was one of many creators who have used art to cope with pain. Why do you think
people find comfort in art and creativity?

People find comfort in art and creativity because they express their feelings and deep thought
among art and expression.