Self-portrait on the Borderline between Mexico and the United States

Kahlo’s intellectual and artistic interests hinged on examining her personal experiences and asserting her own identity. She wanted to return to Mexico, where her sense of self was rooted. In this painting, Kahlo depicted herself on the border between two worlds. On the right, we see the industrialized United States represented by the Ford River Rouge plant, sky scrapers, and modern inventions; and on the left, ancient Mexico is represented with verdant plant life, examples of indigenous art, and Aztec iconography. Kahlo stands defiantly between the two countries, perhaps asserting herself as a product of both the modern world and ancient heritage.