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Frida Kahlo at Tate Modern: An Icon Reviewed
Frida Kahlo is one of the most iconic and recognisable painters of the 20th century—but what lies beneath the surface of the "unblinking icon"?
In this HENI Talks film, Dr Rebecca Marks visits the landmark retrospective, Frida Kahlo: The Making of an Icon.
We explore how Kahlo’s work transcended her personal pain to address universal themes of identity, gender, and the disabled body.
From her earliest experiments with Renaissance portraiture to her mature "living nature" still lifes, we trace the evolution of her distinctive style. We dive deep into her most significant works, including:
Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress: A sensual reclamation of self after her tragic accident.
Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird: A masterclass in symbolic self-fashioning and resilience.
The Heart: An exploration of her complex dual heritage and emotional landscape. Beyond the paintings, we examine how Kahlo meticulously constructed her public image through photography and traditional Tehuana dress, effectively becoming an "influencer" long before the digital age. Join us as we uncover the scholar’s perspective on Frida Kahlo’s enduring legacy and her profound influence on contemporary art and identity politics.
Time Period:
20th century
Dr Rebecca Marks specialises in the visual work of William Blake and his circle. Her academic research has been published in The Cambridge Quarterly, The British Art Journal, and Blake / An Illustrated Quarterly, for which she also serves on the advisory board. In 2023 she was awarded the Richard D. Gooder essay prize for contributions to visual studies. She regularly reviews books on Romantic art for Eighteenth Century Studies and Romanticism. She has presented her work at conferences across the world, spoken at museums, schools, and universities, and even rediscovered a lost drawing by William Blake.