Frida Kahlo - Self-Portrait (1940)

Exhibition poster with work by Frida Kahlo, Self-portrait with thorn necklace and Hummingbird (1940). The poster was published in connection with the exhibition, Fantastic Women at Louisiana, in 2020.

Mexican Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is called one of the world's finest portrait painters and her Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) is often seen as one of the most central expressions of Kahlo's portrait art.

The image conveys Kahlo's deep interest in nature and Mexican folklore, and at the same time Kahlo's strength, will, and resilience in the face of a life of eternal pain, which her self-portraits often interpret: Frida Kahlo contracted polio at the age of 6 and one leg became paralyzed. She was involved in a violent traffic accident at the age of 18, became childless and went through a long series of operations.

But even though the hummingbird is dead and the blood trickles from the neck, like pictures of both mental and physical pain, the gaze is still fixed and clear. And perhaps also patiently and persistently: "I never painted my dreams. I painted my own reality", Frida Kahlo has said.

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird has been exhibited all over the world and is one of the 55 self-portraits Frida Kahlo painted out of a total of 143 works.

About Louisiana | Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, established in 1958 by Knud W. Jensen, has housed exhibitions with some of the most renowned international artists, presenting an exhibition program that has resonated strongly with the public for over 6 decades.

The museum has earned a reputation as one of the world's most respected exhibition venues, celebrated for its stunning architecture and inviting atmosphere. At Louisiana, there is a deep-rooted belief that art should be accessible to all, offering experiences and visions that resonated with everyone. 

Forsyth is proud to represent a curated edit of Louisiana's renowned collection of exhibition posters and prints.