Frida Kahlo

• Spanish
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Topic 6

Cultural Heritage in the 

Spanish-speaking world

Content

6.1 Historical sites and prehispanic civilisations

6.2 Art and Architecture

6.3 Music and Dance

Let's remember our last lesson!

1. Which are the main civilisations that left a mark in Spanish architecture?
2. Tell me at least one example of each of them.
3. What are the main three prehispanic civilisations? 

Answers

1. Which are the main civilisations that left a mark in Spanish's architecture?

The Romans and the Arabs.

2. Tell me at least one example of a historical site of each of them.

The Aqueduct in Segovia.

The Alhambra in Granada.

3. What are the main three prehispanic civilisations? 

The Maya, The Inca and the Aztec.

Who is this woman?

1. Sofía Vergara
2. Rosalía
3. Frida Kahlo
4. Marilyn Monroe

What do you know
about her?

So, what are we going to learn today?

• Important aspects about Frida Kahlo's life.
• Some of her main works of art.
• What the main themes of her art are.
• Frida's influence in the past and now. 

Frida Kahlo's Life

What was her profession?

Where was she from?
Listen to the audio to help you.

Where is Mexico?

Australia

Mexico

Brazil

Algeria

China

1

2

3

4

5

Watch this video about Frida and answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. What happened to Frida when she was 9 years old?
2. Tell me two adjectives to describe Frida at school.
3. Her dad was modern for the time; would you agree? Why?
4. How did Frida meet Diego Rivera?
5. Why was her accident in 1922 important in her career as a painter?
6. Did Diego Rivera play a part in her success too? How?
7. Frida and Diego's marriage was very calm and peaceful. Do you agree? Why?
8. What is one of Frida's milestones as an artist?
9. How did her health problems impact her paintings?
10. Was Frida as famous back in her time as later on? Why?

• What happened to Frida when she was 9 years old?

She contracted polio and was bedridden for more than nine months. 

• Tell me two adjectives to describe Frida at school.

 Outspoken and brave.

• Her dad was modern for the time; would you agree? Why?

He encouraged Frida to play sport; something not common for girls at that time. 

• How did Frida meet Diego Rivera?

She saw Diego painting a mural in her school.

• Why was her accident in 1922 important in her career as a painter?

Frida was seriously injured and had a full body cast for three months so she started painting to kill time. 

• Did Diego Rivera play a part in her success too? How?
  

He discovered her and her painting and is very impressed so he helped her in her career. 

• Frida and Diego's marriage was very calm and peaceful. Do you agree? Why?
  

No, they had an agitated relationship. They had several affairs; Diego even with Frida's sister. 

• What is one of Frida's milestones as an artist?
  

The Louvre bought one of her paintings; the first one from a Mexican artist!

• How did her health problems impact her paintings?

She used her art to express her health problems and physical challenges. 

• Was Frida as famous back in her time as later on? Why?

Her fame grew after her death especially after the 70 as a feminist icon. 

Now that you have seen the main events of Frida's life; can you put them in order using these laminated paper strips?

You need to work in groups.

Frida had a solo exhibit and she attended in her own bed.

Frida and Diego went to the USA and Diego had a dispute about one of his murals.

Frida went to Paris and met Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso, two Spanish artists, who loved her work. 

Frida and Diego got married 

Her health continued to deteriorate but she did not stop painting. 

Diego Rivera discovered Frida's paintings

She had a very serious traffic accident

Frida was born in 1907

She met Diego Rivera

Frida died in 1954

Frida started painting

She contracted polio

The Louvre Museum in Paris bought one of her paintings; the first one from  a Mexican artist!

1. Frida was born in 1907

2. She contracted polio

3. She met Diego Rivera

4. She had a very serious traffic accident

5. Frida started painting

6. Diego Rivera discovered Frida's paintings

7. Frida and Diego got married 

8. Frida and Diego went to the USA and Diego had a dispute about one of his murals.

9. Frida went to Paris and met Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso, two Spanish artists, who loved her work. 

10. The Louvre Museum in Paris bought one of her paintings; the first one from  a Mexican artist!

11. Her health continued to deteriorate but she did not stop painting. 

12. Frida had a solo exhibit and she attended in her own bed.

13. Frida died in 1954

Answers

Some of Frida's Famous Paintings

Can you match them with their titles?

The Broken Column (1944)

The Two Fridas (1939)

Henry Ford Hospital (The Flying Bed; 1932)

My Dress Hangs There(1933)

Self portrait along the border line between Mexico and the United States (1932)

Frida and Diego Rivera (1931)

1

2

3

4

5

6

The Broken Column (1944)

Frida and Diego Rivera (1931)

The Two Fridas (1939)

Self portrait along the border line between Mexico and the United States (1932)

Henry Ford Hospital

(The Flying Bed; 1932)

My Dress Hangs There(1933)

Themes of her paintings

As you can see, Frida used to paint about different aspects of her life. Match the different paintings with their respective subject.

Health problems

Marriage with Diego Rivera 

Mexico and the USA

What are the real meanings of these paintings?

Frida's Influence 

What did Frida say?

Frida's quotes are very relevant nowadays; so her influence is still present. 

Have a look at some and talk to your partner to match them appropriately!

The film

(Julie Taymor, 2002)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CTM7FcY1LE

Do you recognise the actress who plays Frida?

Recap

How did Frida discover her talent in painting?

She had always wanted to be a painter so she took lessons.

After she suffered from an accident which left her in bed for months

Her dad forced her to paint.

Frida painted __________ the most.

Nature

Self-portraits

Portraits

She suffered from...

Cancer

Smallpox

Gangrene

Frida's relationship with Diego Rivera was...

friendship

a complicated love story

an ideal love story

Which of these paintings represents Frida's heartbreak from her marriage with Diego?

Frida was not afraid of tackling...

Social issues

Sexual identity

Political activism

Nonconformity

All of them

Well done!

How much have you learnt about Frida Kahlo today?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

And...

If you want to know even more, have a look at this website and add information to your revision notes!

artsandculture.google.com

Read the text in the handout about Frida and write a summary including the following points: 

• Traits of Frida Kahlo
  
• Reasons why she was a strong woman for her time.
  
•  Reasons why she was also influential afterwards.

Make a list with the relevant  information that you have learnt about Frida Kahlo for your cultural references and bring them to your speaking lessons next week.