Our "Frida" Design—Frida Kahlo X Isabelle de Borchgrave

May 14, 2020

Summer is the perfect time to capitalize on color as you enjoy a season characterized by warmer temperatures and more daylight. Frida Kahlo, the renowned Mexican artist, loved using color in her impressive and enduring work.

Kahlo, who suffered both polio and a bus accident that left her recovering in a full-body cast, started painting to cope with boredom and pain after the bus event in 1922. It was then that she created her first self-portrait. Her parents, who encouraged her love of art, stocked her bedroom with supplies and even made a special easel for her to use while lying down.

Kahlo often referenced the decorative motifs and colors of traditional Mexican folk art in her paintings. And later, she started adding more surreal elements to her work. Although, she didn’t consider herself part of the surrealism movement; once stating in an interview, "They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't. I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality." Ultimately, her artwork blends explorations of her country’s identity and history with her personal experience and pain. As Kahlo’s career progressed, galleries in New York and Paris displayed her work. She completed what is perhaps her most famous painting, titled The Broken Column,” in 1944. It’s another self-portrait and depicts her naked and split in two. The piece emphasizes the physical issues that affected her throughout her life but did not prevent her artistic expression.

(Image Courtesy of www.FridaKahlo.org)

By 1950, Kahlo was dealing with both chronic pain and gangrene. These conditions limited her mobility and affected her mental health. Nevertheless, she remained an active artist and furthered an interest in political activism that began decades earlier. On July 13, 1954, just after her 47th birthday, Kahlo died of a pulmonary embolism.

During her challenging and relatively short life, Kahlo often used color to add emotional depth to her art. Besides frequently choosing bold hues reflecting her Mexican heritage, Kahlo implemented warm, earth-inspired tones.

(Image Courtesy of www.FridaKahlo.org)

At Caspari, we love to partner with independent artists and museums. Our licensing process pays the creators for their work and gives you the opportunity to display products featuring their art that our team adapts for your home and table.

One of our licensed artists, Isabelle de Borchgrave, is known for creating stunning paper replicas of historic garments in European paintings and fashion collection. Among her body of work is a bold and bright collection that reinterprets the real garments of Frida Kahlo in paper and paint. It opens a dialog between artists of the past and present and proves the power and influence of creators that begins during their lives and spans beyond them. De Borchgrave used her interpretation of Kahlo’s artistic output to come up with designs bursting with color and pattern to pay tribute to the Mexican artist’s legacy.

Our summer design, “Frida” features a sampling of the striking patterns and vivid colors in Isabelle’s Frida-inspired work. Boldly contrasting prints combine with saturated shades of blue, green, fuchsia, and orange, to create a truly festive design. The result is a style that is the perfect complement to all of your summertime events and occasions. From opportunities to dine to reasons to give a gift, this collection features a design to include. Our Frida gift bags feature extra special details such as sturdy canvas handles and charming pompom trim. This dazzling product line will wow long-time fans of Kahlo’s work, as well as those who may be recently introduced.