Still Life with Watermelons

Frida Kahlo was unquestionably one of the world's most popular Mexican artists. The complexity and richness of her human and aesthetic dimensions transformed her into a universal symbol. In 1925, Kahlo began her formal artistic training in Fernando Fernández's engraving studio. In around 1953, she put on her only ever solo exhibition during her lifetime, at the Galería de Arte Contemporáneo (Gallery of Contemporary Art ), owned by the photographer Lola Álvarez Bravo. In the same year, she painted a still life called "Naturaleza muerta con sandías" (Still Life with Watermelons)—a painting genre that had become well established during the 17th century. In this painting, the sober baroque palette is replaced with the vibrant colors that were typical of Kahlo's work. The use of heavy, uniform brushstrokes highlights the fleshiness and freshness of the cut fruit in comparison to the simplicity of the oranges. The pieces are laid out in apparent disarray, with the different sizes, textures, and shapes creating an impression of balance and succulence.