The Original Self Portrait (or Selfie)

Image Source | artyfactory.com

The self-portrait or what we call in the 21st century - the selfie.
We are all guilty of taking one, whether its to create a brand, a Facebook profile picture or just to reinvent ourselves we can't get enough of the selfie, I myself am guilty of one or two. But I have to say its sometimes a little embarrassing seeing my reflection in my iPhone screen but its a great way to create that perfect picture for the world to see, whether this be a true reflection or not.
 

What I have discovered this week is the original selfie artist, Frida Kahlo. She painted only self portraits but with depth and meaning, her portraits reflected different points in here life. Born on 6th July 1907 in New Mexico, Frida lived a some what eventful life. Physical trauma, heart ache and coping with a philanthropist husband Diego Rivera who she had a obsessive, tempestuous relationship with. Her first portrait was painted while bedridden for three months after a car accident, Self Portrait in A Velvet Dress (1926) (above image). Frida created a certain persona within her portraits, she understood how this illusion was perceived by individuals. The same is achieved today when uploading a selfie to instagram, we create an illusion of ourselves, an illusion of how we want to be seen. Frida went on to create many masterpieces including The Two Frida's (1939) this was a double self portrait whilst Frida was going through her divorce and What I Saw in the Water (1938). 

Sadly Frida passed on 13th July 1954 aged 47, this is said to have been almost certainly suicide by overdose. She left these words "I hope the exit is full and joyful - and I hope never to return - Frida". Ever since her death Frida's work has gathered momentum and thanks to today's self-portraitist world her work continues to gather more and more meaning.