Leo Martínez
Frida Kahlo's self-portraits are renowned for their symbolism and unique painting style, with 55 out of 143 of her paintings featuring her pets, including her spider monkeys, Fulang-Chang and Caimito de Guayabal. In Mexican mythology, monkeys are a symbol of lust, but Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective, reflecting her connection with the creatures. In this paragraph, we will explore the type of monkey that appears in Frida Kahlo's paintings and the significance they held for the artist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Species | Spider monkey |
| Number of monkeys | 3 or 4 |
| Behaviour | Tender, protective, childlike, playful |
| Symbolism | Lust, fertility, children, primal urges |
| Pet names | Fulang Chang, Caimito de Guayabal |
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What You'll Learn
Frida Kahlo's spider monkeys
The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo kept monkeys as pets and often included them in her artwork. Of her 143 paintings, 55 are self-portraits, and eight of these feature spider monkeys. Kahlo's pet spider monkeys were named Fulang Chang, a gift from her husband, and Caimito de Guayabal. In Mexican mythology, monkeys are symbols of lust, but Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective.
Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Monkeys from 1943 is one of her most famous paintings. In it, she is surrounded by four monkeys, two of which are half-hidden by the leaves of a bird of paradise plant. On Kahlo's white cotton blouse, two of the monkeys point to a red and orange Aztec glyph for earthquake or movement (ollin). The glyph is identical to an image in the Florentine Codex, a document Kahlo was familiar with. The painting may also symbolise her four loyal students, who called themselves "Los Fridos".
Kahlo's monkeys also symbolised the children she was unable to have due to injuries she sustained in a bus accident in 1925. The accident led to medical complications, an abortion, and several miscarriages. Monkeys were worshipped as gods of fertility in Aztec times. Kahlo's first monkey painting, completed in 1937, featured just one monkey, but by 1942, she was painting a larger menagerie of exotic animals that were her friends.
Kahlo's home, Casa Azul (Blue House) in Coyoacán, Mexico City, was also home to many pets, including monkeys, dogs, birds, and a fawn. Guests of Casa Azul were often entertained by Fulang Chang, or Bonito, the Amazon parrot, who performed tricks for pats of butter. Rivera constructed a small pyramid in the garden where her pets roamed freely.
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Symbolism of monkeys in Kahlo's paintings
Frida Kahlo's paintings are more than just depictions of herself or the world around her. Her art is a tool that visually translates her innermost thoughts, memories, and beliefs. Her self-portraits are especially laden with symbolism, and understanding her glossary of symbols leads to a deeper appreciation of Kahlo and her message.
Kahlo's self-portraits often featured monkeys, which she kept as pets in the garden of her home, the Blue House in Coyoacán. She had two spider monkeys, Fulang Chang, a gift from her husband, and Caimito de Guayabal. In her self-portraits, they are often shown sitting close to her, with one painting showing two monkeys hugging her.
Kahlo stated that the monkeys symbolized the children she was never able to bear due to the injuries she suffered in a bus accident in 1925. The accident led to a later abortion and several miscarriages. In Mexican folklore, monkeys are also connected with fertility and desire, further emphasizing their symbolism as representations of the children she longed for.
In her paintings, the monkeys also reflect the image of a 'monkey on your back', a phrase used to describe a problem or burden. They appear loyal and connected to Kahlo, almost as if they are an extension of herself.
In Aztec times, monkeys were worshipped as gods of fertility. In her self-portrait with monkeys, Kahlo wears a blouse with an Aztec glyph for earthquake or movement (ollin). Two monkeys point to this glyph, and she symbolically claimed her place at the forefront of a movement towards change.
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The role of monkeys in Mexican folklore
Monkeys feature prominently in Mexican folklore and art. In ancient Mexico, the monkey was the eleventh of the twenty day signs of the calendar. The Mexicans called it by its generic name, ozomatli, and did not distinguish between the howling and the spider monkey. The monkey is associated with the arts, fun, games, and dance. It is also shown with a small multi-coloured rectangle on the cheek, an attribute of Xochipilli-Macuilxochitl, the deity of music, dance, and games.
The Maya distinguished the howling monkey (baatz) from the spider monkey (maax) and, like the Mexicans, considered the animal a symbol of licentiousness and merrymaking. Monkeys feature prominently in human creation stories of the Maya. The Howler Monkey and the Spider Monkey are key characters in the Popol Vuh, with the "younger brothers" being the Hero Twins. This story can still be found in community dances in Mexico (Chiapas and Tabasco) and in Guatemala. Monkeys also have associations with joking and frivolity, as well as with death and the underworld. In Maya art, monkeys are found engaged in all kinds of human acts, although they also have a divine character.
In Mexican mythology, monkeys are symbols of lust, but the painter Frida Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective symbols. Kahlo kept monkeys as pets and said they symbolized the children she was never able to bear because of the injuries she suffered in a bus accident. Eight of her large number of self-portraits feature spider monkeys. In her 1943 self-portrait with monkeys, there are four monkeys. Two of them hug Frida, and two more behind her are half-buried by the leaves of a bird of paradise plant. On Kahlo's white cotton blouse, two of the monkeys point to a red and orange Aztec glyph for earthquake or movement (ollin).
Monkeys also play a prominent role in creation myths and origin stories across various cultures. In Hindu mythology, Monkey is associated with the deity Hanuman, who is revered for his unwavering loyalty and strength. In the West African Yoruba tradition, the deity known as Eshu Elegbara is often depicted as a cunning and playful monkey. In South American mythology, the Tukano people believe in the existence of a divine Monkey who created the world, along with other animal deities.
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Kahlo's use of self-portraiture
Frida Kahlo's self-portraits are world-renowned, with 55 out of her 143 paintings being self-portraits. She once said, "I paint myself because I'm so often alone and because I am the subject I know best". Kahlo's self-portraits were a way for her to reclaim her body from medical issues and gender conformity. She also used her self-portraits to express her anguish and pain, with her paintings often dealing directly with her struggles with medical issues, infertility, and her troubled marriage to Diego Rivera.
Kahlo's self-portraits are characterised by her intense gaze, elaborate hair, and vibrant Mexican clothing. She often included powerful iconography from indigenous Mexican culture in her self-portraits, situating herself in a tradition of rebellion against colonial forces and male rule. For example, in her Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940), the dead hummingbird hanging around her neck is considered a good luck charm for falling in love in Mexican folklore. The painting also includes a cat, which is symbolic of bad luck and death, and a monkey, which is a symbol of evil. The natural landscape, which usually symbolises fertility, contrasts with the deathly imagery in the foreground.
Kahlo's self-portraits also reflect her dual heritage. For example, in The Two Fridas (1939), one Frida wears a Victorian dress, representing her European heritage, while the other wears a Tehuana skirt and blouse, representing her indigenous heritage. This painting symbolises the consolation she offered herself in moments of despair. Another example is her Self-Portrait as a Tehuana or Diego in my Thoughts (1943), in which she wears her favourite clothing of the women of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, of Zapotec ethnicity.
Kahlo's self-portraits were also a way for her to express her sexuality and desires. She was not afraid to acknowledge her own sexual feelings, and her paintings often included symbolic portrayals of physical and psychological wounds. For example, in Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940), Kahlo depicts herself in a man's suit, holding a pair of scissors, with her fallen hair around her. This painting represents the times she cut off her hair after Rivera had an affair.
Kahlo's self-portraits have made her one of the most influential women in the history of art. Her paintings have achieved celebrity status, with her works selling for very high prices today. In May 2006, her self-portrait, Roots, sold for $5.62 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York, setting a record for the most expensive Latin American work ever purchased at auction.
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The influence of nature on Kahlo's work
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican painter known for her portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by Mexican nature and artifacts. She explored questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. Kahlo's work has been described as surrealist or magical realist.
Kahlo's interest in Mexican folk art and her exposure to the modernist indigenist movement in Mexico influenced her artwork. She also sought to distance herself from her German roots and embrace her Mexican identity. This can be seen in her decision to change her name from Frieda to Frida and wear traditional Tehuana costumes.
Kahlo's work was also influenced by her personal experiences, such as her bus accident in 1925, which caused her lifelong health issues and complications with reproduction. She often depicted herself in a bleeding and broken state, exposing her interior organs to explain human behaviors. Kahlo's paintings of monkeys, for example, symbolized the children she was never able to bear.
Kahlo's house, La Casa Azul, played a pivotal role in her relationship with the natural world. She kept a collection of botanical field guides, books on Mexican medicinal plants, and an illustrated herbal handbook. The garden of La Casa Azul, which she designed with her husband, was filled with plants and her beloved pets, including monkeys, dogs, birds, and a fawn.
In addition to her paintings, Kahlo's influence can be seen in literature, music, film, and fashion. She has become an international cultural icon, and her work continues to inspire artists, designers, and students worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The monkeys in Frida Kahlo's paintings are spider monkeys.
Kahlo kept monkeys as pets and they are thought to symbolise the children she was unable to have. Monkeys also appear in Mexican mythology as symbols of lust and fertility.
There are four monkeys in Kahlo's 'Self-Portrait with Monkeys'. Two hug the artist, and two are half-hidden behind her by foliage.
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