Frida Kahlo - Henry Ford Hospital

Diego Jimenez A01139513

Sergio Perales A00812401

Carlos Alvarado A00814596

Valery Valdez A00813361

In the painting of Henry Ford Hospital commonly known as "The Flying Bed", is a biographical reference to the physical and mental problems that Kahlo was undergoing when she experienced the life changing disease that restrained her to a bed. As we can see resulting of the problem she experienced, on the painting we see 6 symbols that represent each step, starting with upper left image of a lower body medical mannequin, this is the place where her disease developed  due to being restrained, she was not able to have a child, and for a woman to have a baby, is the happiest moments on a woman's life. the snail represents the inability for  her to move accordingly and this is directly related to the damaged pelvis that is on the lower right hand corner making her feel like a dead flower because she has lost her purpose as a woman which is to bring life to the world. and she remains restrained in a bed with medical equipment around her and a feeling of isolation that nobody is able to help. The painting describes pain in all of its levels, and the traumas of being a cripple person physically and being somewhat in chains unable to pursue happiness.


Essay 1

"Frida and husband Diego Rivera were in Detroit, Michigan during 1932-33. Diego was creating his now-famous Detroit Industry frescoes at the Detroit Institute of Arts, having been commissioned to do the series by Edsel Ford who was President of the Detroit Arts Commission at the time (in addition to his day job of Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company). Henry Ford Hospital, financed by and named for Edsel's father, is but a few city blocks north and west of the DIA. " 

This essay describes the historical context of the painting concerning Frida's Husband and his works during the 1930s and its if as if they trying to relate this events to an event that is mostly personal to Frida an has nothing to do with the painting.

Essay 2

"Kahlo painted "The Flying Bed" during the time that she and her husband, Diego Rivera, lived in Detroit, Michigan. During that time, Michigan was a bustling and economically prosperous city, and Diego Rivera was painting the famous "Detroit Industry" murals. Kahlo had suffered a miscarriage for the second time, and she was living in a strange country. At the same time, the artist realized that she would never be able to have children on account of an injury that damaged her pelvis and uterus."

Another essay describes the historical context of the painting nd the events surrounding the elaboration of the painting but fails to describe artistically the composition of the work of art and pursuits its context rather than its artistic value.