Self portrait with cropped hair - by Frida Kahlo
Right after Frida Kahlo divorced with Diego Rivera, she painted this self-portrait. Unlike other previous self-portraits in which Frida always wears feminine dresses, in this one she was wearing a large suit of black color, which looks like one of Diego's. She also cut off her long hair, which has attracted Diego so much. She was holding scissors in her right hand which means she did it all by herself. In her left hand, she was holding her shorn hair which is a symbol of her sacrifice.
In the background strands of hair are everywhere and it seems each one has its own life. Surrounded by the hair she was sitting on a chair with an empty expression. The space around her is uninhabited which adds to her despair. The lyrics of a song painted across the top of this portrait which reads:
"See, if I loved you, it was for your hair, now you're bald, I don't love you any more.".
After the separation with Diego, Frida chooses to abandon her feminine image. She cut her hair short, got rid of the Tehuana dress Diego is obsessed with and started to wear man's suit. The only thing she keeps as a feminine decoration is her earrings. This self-portrait expressed her desire to be independent and not relying on men.
Frida Kahlo's Masterpieces
