Frida Kahlo - A Life of Pain - Biographical Documentary
Frida Kahlo is one of the most popular and recognisable artists of the 20th century.
She is known for her painting, her politics, her tempestuous relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera, and many others, and her fierce independence.
But behind the vibrancy and energy of her work was a life wracked with pain, both physical and emotional, from a near fatal accident at the age of 18. She had over 30 surgeries over the course of her life to try to relieve her pain but ended up by having her leg amputated.
She taught herself to paint while lying recovering in bed and like no other artist she laid out her pain for all to see, unapologetic, uncompromising, deeply personal, yet tapping into something universal.
This video explores Frida’s colourful, dramatic and painful life story.
Academic References:
Antelo, F. (2013). Pain and the paintbrush: The life and art of Frida Kahlo. AMA Journal of Ethics, 15(5), 460-465.
Baddeley, O. (1991). 'Her dress hangs here': De-frocking the Kahlo cult. Oxford Art Journal, 14(1), 10-7.
Budrys, V. (2006). Neurological deficits in the life and works of Frida Kahlo. European neurology, 55(1), 4-10.
Feldman, G. C. (1999). Dissociation, repetition-compulsion, and the art of Frida Kahlo. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 27(3), 387-396..
Copyright Disclaimer:
The primary purpose of this video is educational. I have tried to use material in the public domain or with Creative Commons Non-attribution licences wherever possible. Where attribution is required, I have listed this below. I believe that any copyright material used falls under the remit of Fair Use, but if any content owners would like to dispute this, I will not hesitate to immediately remove that content. It is not my intention to infringe on content ownership in any way. If you happen to find your art or images in the video, please let me know and I will be glad to credit you.
Images:
Wikimedia Commons
Fridakahlo.org
Wellcome Collection
Frida Kahlo Museum
Music - Via Wikimedia Commons
Laid Back Guitars Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) CC3.0
Mariachi Band on stage in Salsa Toronto, posted on KZhead by Theo T CC Attribution
Cancion Mexicana Traditional Mexican folksong, Arr. M. Ponce/H.Heitmeyer. Jason Wehr, Toltec Strings CC Attribution
Piedritas Al Agua - Violin Music of Tierra Caliente Mexico: Featuring Paul Anastasio and The Onlies. CC Attribution
Gregorio Allegri - Miserere Mei, Deus Vocal Stage Ensemble of the National System of Musical Promotion in the Cathedral of Tlaxcala. CC3.0
Vladan L. Kuzmanović, Prelude For Broken Piano No. 2, Conceptual piece, 2019. CC4.0
Vladan L. Kuzmanović, Bravoure for 12 string guitar in A-flat major
Snowmen by Kai Engel CC4.0
Twelve from the Black Book 6,7 and 11 by Lloyd Rodgers CC1.0
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 (Franz Liszt) by Jaan Patterson CC1.0
Yard Dogs Road Show - Blockhead CC0
Video produced by Graeme Yorston and Tom Yorston.
As a medical nightmare since childhood, I can understand her. Her medical paintings are so powerful. Living with pain eventually drives us mad. At least she gave us her art. If she didn't have opioids we wouldn't have half of her wonderful works.
Very true.
Well said . This is also my belief
My take on Frida Kahlo is that she had a lifetime of physical and mental pain: a mother who was complicated and not available to Frida, rejection from peers, permanent damage from polio, the horrific accident and then she married a man whose work she admired but who was not who she needed him to be, namely a husband. It is possible that she had a tumultuous love life because she believed her life was going to be short so tried to live it to the fullest or was making a statement that a woman is a person and can have affairs just like a man can or that the man she married made no secret about his affairs (he told her all about them). I believe she suffered tremendously from her physical pain overwhelming her whole life. As an artist, it would have got in the way of being able to paint whatever she wanted and force her to paint about her pain. I admire her spirit and determination. She was an amazing woman. As for mental illness, no I don't think she actually had one. I think she dealt with life as best she could, including drugs and alcohol to help her through the worse times, all the while managing to paint and to stay interested in life outside of her struggles.
I agree!
Get the polio vaccination for all you antivaxers. It's brutal to young humans to not get vaccinated . She suffered!
I agree with you. I really admire her for her beautiful mix of vulnerability and strength at the same time. She was unapologetically true to herself.
Great woman bad painter
She was a lost soul, tumultuous painful life and unfortunately never had Christ.
Having spinal issues and chronic non stop pain, I relate with Frida. You look and act as normally as you can. No one sees your pain. It’s invisible to the naked eye.But have a MRI or CAT scan, and the doctors wonder how your still walking. I use humor. Frida used her art. I think Frida was a brilliant artist. She’s showing you her pain. It’s right there. I think she’s brave and strong and I adore her.
Well said!
I too had polio which left me with pain, but my great-aunt, who raised me and nursed me in the aftermath of my polio, taught me to handle the pain and deformity. With her encouragement and support, I got a series of college scholarships and went through law school. I learned how to appear normal in the courtroom and became a successful litigator, founding my own law firm. I retired in my early 40s, and, as my children were grown, sailed offshore for some years. Now I have published books on successfully building law practices. My old illness has done increasing spinal damage, but I can still walk with a cane. Frieda was a model for me, showing a woman could be a success despite some physical limits. I live quietly on the edge of the Pacific in a beautiful area. I am a great-grandmother. My beloved husband passed on some years ago, but left me with many happy memories. Frieda showed the way, although I could pass as normal and led a much quieter life.
Some people (many of those analyzing Frida) have no understanding of how and to what extent chronic pain can influence ones life
Pain doesn't show to others! I'm appalled that anyone suggested that her chronic pain was the result of psychological issues or Munchausen's. Anyone with as much spinal damage as she had would have had terrible chronic pain. I do, and I don't have near the spinal damage that she had.
@@SpyderredtooThank you for sharing. You are even more inspiring than Ms. Kahlo, if you'll forgive me for saying.
The more I learn about Freida Kahlo, the more I admire her.
She was a tough cookie!
👌 ... 🤝
Do you know who Stalin was? Did you know that Frida loved him and painted him beside herself? If you know who he was and you still admire that woman, then there is something seriously wrong with you!
@@professorgraemeyorston Exactly... So tough she had three abortions done. I wonder why you "forgot" to mention that.
Dear Professor, Thank you very much for the understanding and a beautiful story. I love Frida's art and person. If you can, please, make a similar video about Diego Rivera.
I love the juxtaposition of deciding not to get rid of her unibrow or mustache with the very “feminine” clothing, hair pieces, and red lipstick. It cuts such a striking figure. Also getting false teeth made in gold and one studded with diamonds is a boss move! I had no idea that she made all of this incredible artwork while being either on bedrest recovering from surgeries or in intense chronic pain. It gives her art a whole new meaning, though I admittedly knew very little about her. This was a wonderfully made documentary, thank you for your hard work!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
You did a wonderful job presenting Frida's life to us, thank you for covering her!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Her mom may have been wrong about many things but that elephant and dove comment was spot on😂. RIP Frida❤
This just shows you that even though there’s soooo much pain she always found something beautiful in it you really did her justice here thank you ☺️
My pleasure.
I have had chronic pain for 25 years. I’ve had six spinal surgeries. I am 68 and covering from the sixth spinal surgery. Frida Kahlo inspired me to paint, it takes your mind off the pain. I also have always love photography since I was a child, my first Camera was a brownie…. Her story has really helped me. She’s the only person I know that I can relate to chronic pain is something people don’t understand only the Strong survive it.😊
Have you listened to Joni Eareckson Tada?
G R E A T ! You are very strong! Regards from Vienna 🎡
I’ve always been fascinated by Frida Kahlo’s life and work. This presentation was especially great because of the real-life footage of her. Nicely done, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just before I lifted my phone, I was actually crying from severe back and leg pain from Degenerative Disc disease, arthritis etc. I can lo long lay on my bed to sleep; I sit-up and holding a pillow or two, I lean forward to accept my blessings of sleep. Running across this video , I knew I wanted to jump into Frida’s world and stop feeling sorrow for myself. Her self portraits have always touched me. She had truly lived her life as only Frida only could.
She is an inspiration to all those who suffer chronic pain.
I used to sleep in a chair because of pain while waiting to have my hip replaced. It caused my legs to swell from retaining fluids. It can be damaging and cause ulcers in the legs, which in Frieda’s case led to amputation. Please be careful and watch out for that. I hope you can find a way to elevate your legs that won’t cause pain.
And yet, in spite of all the pain and disappointment in her far too short life, she was always incredibly strong! She was one of the first artists to show the brutal truth of both physical and emotional pain. She was an enormous inspiration to me during my recovery from serious mental health issues.
M2f trans
This was a fascinating one . She had indeed come from a very unstable background with a poor role model in the person of her hysterical mother and the death defying road accident . It was not at all unreasonable for her to suffer a variety of clinical depressions and neuroses . In fact she was extraordinarily productive throughout her life despite adversity .
Thank you, I agree, with all that happened to her, it is wonder that she was able to hold her life together so well.
Thank you so much. I don't know how she managed to get through and do so much in a tortured state of body and mind. Bravo Frieda.
She certainly had some resilience.
What a treat! My entire bedroom is a shrine to F.K. (Another is to Georgia O’Keefe, and my living room is to Klimt. I’ve been to Vienna from PA 15X to visit and revisit his paintings, his studio, his grave, a castle he painted in Romania, Emilie Floge’s salon, Attersee, and many more places.) I was born 4 years after Frida died and also have always been unwell, having my 1st asthma attack at 8 days old. I’m deaf, have epilepsy, and a long list I won’t bore you with. Most like Frida though is my permanent condition called RSD, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy. It’s shattering pain that moves from one body part to another for several years at a time. It began in 2007 in my R shoulder, then my R wrist, then my L foot and back, now my whole low back and both feet. I’ve been bedridden for years with my art cart by my bed. Artists are my rock stars, so I’d be beyond thrilled if you could do Klimt or O’Keefe. Your film was fantastic!
I enjoyed this documentary, thank you! She was an interesting character, and very beautiful. Knowing that she wanted to become a medical illustrator made her paintings a bit more comprehensible to me.
Glad you enjoyed it.
As I lay here, life happening all around me, pain having made its home in my body, I weep for Frida, as I weep for my pain. Art is life, here in this world, and instead of flowers, I shall paint my pain.
She was desperate for pain relief. The operations were a means to an end and hopefully they would work. She had so many gruesome injuries and was really brave. She even taught herself to paint to take her mind off the pain. She was brilliant! 💃🇬🇧🥰
She was indeed.
Another thoughtful, compassionate, well documented biography. I have always found her self-portraits to have a deep, mesmerizing quality. Thank you, much obliged.
Thank you.
Thank you. I love how she expressed pain through her paintings.
I agree, you can see it all of them, except the still-lifes maybe.
I just discovered your channel. Every video I've watched has been excellent, and this is no exception!
Thank you, welcome aboard!
Great video! I think she had a mentality way ahead of her time, brutal honest and free spirited Frida 🌼🦋🧡 thank you
I think so too!
……spent a fortnight with friends’ in Mexico City (1972). I was fortunate to meet all the poets’, writers’, artists’, & various musicians’ then current. Also saw Frida, & Diego’s two adjoining houses’, her Art Gallery, & all his murals’. What marvellous experiences’! Travelled to Teotihuacan, & Xochimilco. Tenochtitlan was discovered several years’ later, but I did walk around, & through the Zoccolo. Little did I know what was under my feet!
Sounds like a great trip.
Frida remained true to her values, the same person whether she was with important people or with her people. Her art, like she, remained true to her vision for freedom, and purpose as a revolutionary artist, something the great Diego Rivera was unable to subsist over time. Viva Frida! 💕💐
Very true.
I'm definitely not a fan of her politics, but I can understand the reasons why she would be caught up in it at her time. It was rebellious and revolutionary for the time. I feel like I relate to her so much and have a very similar personality and complicated relationship with my mother. I love her so much. ❤
I think she just wanted a fairer world.
As you say with your pfp flashing a peace sign with the name weRNthistogether 🙄
This was wonderful. I’ve read many books, articles & seen movies about Frida Kahlo but still learned something new from you. Thank you for making this! She is loved by many.
Masterful Biography! A respectful deep dive with more surprising twists in one woman's life than all Hollywood movies combined. Wow Frida!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this great insight into her life and work. She is one of my favourite painting heroes. I think she did rather well considering her personal and physical health and I am amazed how she delt with her complex life. Power to her and power for putting female artists on the map!
An amazing talented woman RIP Frida
She was a GREAT artist. Thank you for this wonderful, well researched video. Especially the visuals. You really do a great job with the artists! Please do more! Thank you!!
When I was 20, had a bad car accident and thus underwent numerous operations on my spine. I was finally told I would have severe nerve pain for the rest of my life. I was a budding artist and the best thing in 1984 my G.P did, was he gave me a book on Frida Kahlo. I totally related to her paintings, as I also could not conceive after the accident. My parents were horrified, telling me not to look at the terrible art works. I don’t romanticise her life. as I find many people do. Her life was full of pain, isolation and hell. But she was a bloody great painter, a strong woman and political agitator. My Mother didn’t visit me in the aftermath of my accident either. People’s reaction to one’s illness is always difficult and surprising. I admired her strength. I am 63, just had 3 levels of my spine replaced with titanium and am still in pain and don’t paint. Because unlike Frida, I was shit at it!!
I'm glad her strength helped you.
A very difficult life indeed. Thank God she had her painting and a strong will to live life regardless.
It kept her going and gave her purpose.
Oh hell no, she was "" "Simply Amazing"!!!! WHAT A WOMAN,!!!!! 🇿🇦
I love the movie.... .. She was so ahead of her time. RIP
Very true.
Having had spinal fractures from an accident, I know that pain can continue throughout your life. Her accident at 18 no doubt set her up for a life of pain, & that may have been the driver of her unforgettable artistic style.
I think you're right.
Artists are born not made in my opinion. Their temperament is what enables them to create great works of art. You often find that “normal “ ordinary people lead inconsequential lives having few extraordinary episodes in their lives. I was touched by the amount of suffering Frida endured however I believe this contributed to her great paintings. As for her mental state I believe that in the greater part her reaction to her life circumstance was appropriate. I like the manner in which you narrate it makes one want to listen further. I would love to learn more about the Greek philosophers and master of psychology - well anything that enables us to understand the human mind and behaviour. Thank you so much.
I think there has to be an inner determination and conviction to succeed as an artist.
The best artists might not have the chops to self promote. These days, that's what it takes, unfortunately.
@@1ACLTotally agree, not every artistic, creative person, has the opportunities to be who they really are, or the single mindedness needed. If the opportunities aren't there, parents have no money or give no encouragement, for whatever reason, those who are naturally gifted in the creative arts, find no outlet & are stifled into living ordinary lives to earn a crust. It has to be remembered, that painting materials & musical instruments, were/are costly & beyond the reach of the old working classes, the poor & impoverished, of whom countless would be just as gifted, or perhaps more so, than those few we revere today !
Your comment is contradictory. You say artists are born not made, but that her suffering contributed to her great paintings. I feel saying artists are born takes away from the amount of hard work they put into their art.
This is wonderful. I do, however, suspect you were reading my mind. I have been talking with friends about Frida in the last few days! This was such a welcome notification for me.
You know psychiatrists!
Great video! You do a wonderful job with these larger than life people.
Thank you.
Her Life Has Not Yet Ended.....As Here & There She Still Exists 💞
In her art, yes!
@@professorgraemeyorston *And Those Her Art Has Influenced...♡
Thank you for covering this wonderful artist.
Amazing exploration of her life. Thank you.
Chronic pain will mess with your head. My experience of it is infinitesimally minimal, compared with what Kahlo must have lived with, her whole life. I can only imagine the profound effect it must have had on her whole personality, actions, life choices. What would her life have been like without the illness, disability and chronic pain? We will, of course, never know.
And my suggestion would be Artemisia Gentileschi
Yes, she is an fascinating person who overcame terrible things.
Thank you. Great suggestion.
thank you for this great presentation!
Thanks so much for posting
Glad you enjoyed it.
As someone with serious chronic health issues that cause constant pain and CPTSD/EUPD (and then some), I can relate so much to her. One does not exclude the other, the pain often comes in droves.
The accident happening at such a young age would undoubtedly have influenced her whole adult life.
This was incredibly interesting, I’m a fan of Frieda’s work but knew little of her story. Could you please do one on Francisco Goya? His art is grotesquely captivating and prints of his art has adorned my walls since I was 14, much to my mother’s horror.
Thank you, I am planning one on Goya. I couldn't agree more - grotesquely captivating.
As someone who has dealt myself with decades of chronic pain, Frida's art has touched my soul the way no other artist has. I have the utmost respect for her and her indomitable spirit ❣️🌹
She was a brave soul battling that pain her whole life.
I can't fathom going through all the physical trials that she did, she really hung in there for a long time! Many people would have ended their lives being in such physical and Emotional/Psychological Torment as this woman.
She had some real inner strength.
wow, what a life story. I couldn't imagine how I can live with all her physical pain. She was a woman of strength.
She was indeed.
Although, I highly appreciate other great paint-artists or art works of them, no other artist has touched me as artist & human,being, as deep as Frida Kahlo. Besides the obvious of being an exceptional and authentic artist, she stands for so much more. I believe the kind and unconditional love of her father, was a strong part of her being able to be so resilient, despite all she had to endure & suffer while growing up. Besides her outstanding art, I admire her resilience, truthfulness, strenght & braveness, she had throughout her life.
She had to be resilient to survive all that was thrown at her.
Thank you for this wonderful documentary
Glad you enjoyed it!
With a mother who sounded like a narcissist and having histrionic behavior... That is often inherited.. But who knows. Poor woman - all the pain. Wonderful video. Thank you :)
Thank you.
Very well done film. I learned a great deal and enjoyed it very much!
So far the best presentation I've seen, congratulations!
Wow, thank you!
What an wonderful door you have opened to me understanding her so much better. I think many of us can relate and learn from her never giving up motion. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it.
This was a great video, I learned so much about Frida. You’re doing a great thing here with this channel! I appreciate all of the work you do for these videos.
Thank you so much!
Great lady, she had achieved so much with so little that she was endowed with.
She did indeed.
I've always loved her work.
"I must fight with all my strength so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution. The only real reason for living." ~Frida Kahlo
She was certainly committed to the cause.
@@professorgraemeyorston Frida y yo
Well done! I had the opportunity to visit The Blue House. There was a nice garden and many paintings artifacts in the House, however it felt cold and empty. Frida definitely had a passion for her art work. I love her gold tooth and the fact she probably was the first person to have bling on her tooth!
Thank you.
The house is grieving her absence.
All of your videos are extremely well done, and the editing of pictures is just stunning. Thanks so much.
Glad you're enjoying them
@@professorgraemeyorstonVery much so. I especially loved the one on Kerouac and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Thank you Professor Yorston! Your videos are engaging and replete with eye-opening insights.
You are very welcome. Love your name by the way!
Thanks great programme...
Beautifully done video. Thank you very much
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this video, you do a wonderful job. This lady was amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !!! Thank You Graeme.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for this insightful and interesting video. I learned more about her physical and emotional health than i ever knew!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Really well presented. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Your analyses are a true gem!
Thank you.
This is an excellent video, thanks for your research and time.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on her life in meaningful and non-judgmental ways.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
I can certainly relate to her pain. Morphine isn't much help but I would never mix it with alcohol. My back and legs are on fire right now so I lay down and find myself watching this😅 very interesting😊
Brilliant, love this video, thank you Professor.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very well done. thoroughly enjoyed. thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was very enlightening, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
I am disabled and live in chronic pain. I paint and study film. The pain is real and it shortens are life a great deal. Depression is constant and there no drugs that can take the pain away. Only in death can we achieve true happiness. She gave us so much to learn from in her works, her life and all its complexities!!!🌹🌹🌹
She did indeed.
What a disaster of a life. It comes across in her paintings. A real revolutionist.
Excellent video. Really enjoyed it ❤
Glad you enjoyed it
What a legend ❤
She is my favorite artist of all time!!!!!
this was extremely interesting! Thank you for your content!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this!
Thanks!
Great presentation of Frida's life by Prof. Graeme Yorston!!! A really interesting approach, objective as a scientist and emotional as a human being!
I have an incredibly beautiful tattoo of Frida Kahlo. I think she’s an incredible lady and I’ve done so much research on her. You’ve definitely done her justice in this video. Thank you! I’m about to binge your whole channel 😍
Thank you, hope you enjoy the others!
Good work. ❤
Beautifully and respectfully done. Frida used her art to save her life for as long as her ailing body would let her. Maybe her melodramatic nature helped to distract her from a truly pain-wracked physical embodiment…..no greater proof that art saves life’s even amidst the paradox of self destruction.✝💜
Thank you! Really enjoyed this presentation 👌. Your new sub from 🇨🇦
Thank you and welcome aboard.
Great documentary ❤! Enjoyable and memorable Thank you for sharing your amazing , interesting work. Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🌹🌹🌹🌹
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so mush for this video , I’ve never understood the life of Freda very good in my life , you explained in really good way thank you !❤️🇩🇿
Glad it was helpful!
I really enjoyed your analysis with incredible artwork and photography. She was certainly a very complex character. Would you do an episode on Andy Warhol?
Great suggestion - he was an interesting guy!
I've apreciated her art for many years
Me too, it has a powerful haunting quality to it.
This is such a depressing story,😢 the horrible accident causing her to endure physical pain for the remainder of her life, a very odd marriage to a philandering man, her life was so 😢 full of pain to the very end of her time on this Earth, how saddening.
And yet, somehow, she coped with it all and created amazing art for posterity.
Great video! If I can, I would like to suggest artists Edvard Munch or Camille Claudel for one of your future videos.
Great suggestions!
Great documentary 👏👏
Thank you!
So much empathy for her as I too am inflicted with pain 24/7 from a failed back fusion. I then began getting Arachnoiditis, which is a fraying of the nerve endings that look like a spiders web under a microscope. Amazing how she could still remain creative under such pain or being on morphine. I used to love photography but just lost all interest as the days of traveling to destinations not planned is no longer possible. It angers me to think that some accused her of being neurotic as until one suffers from nerve pain, they can’t imagine.
Thank you Prof , very interesting ❤
Glad you liked it!
I have read many books about Frida and seen tons of videos. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve learned something new things about her. Great job! Not sure if you have yet, but I would love for you to do a video on Amedeo Modigliani.
Thank you, and great suggestion about Modigliani, I've just read he had tuberculous meningitis - right up my street!
Frida was an intensely inspiring woman inspite of her physical disability. Her painful yet soulful eyes reflect her indomitable spirit To me she is an epitome of strength and indomitable courage someone who lived through immense pain with grace and pride. I love her so much.
Very true.
She was true to herself - that is and was very admirable. A wonderful artist, as well. As her many lovers are mentioned it might have been more efficient to name those she did not have a relationship with, lol. She was true to herself and so loved who she liked, when she liked. That's her spirit. She is remembered and loved for her incredible spirit and talent. Thank-you for all the images and research. Have a nice day. 🙂
Very true. Glad you enjoyed it!
❤🎉amazing désire to paint to express her divine right to live and live creatively! What àn amazing personallity
She was indeed.
Thank you professor! Greetings from Indonesia.
Thank you for watching.