Channeling Frida
I picked this artwork up at an estate sale recently, and it made me think about the purpose of art. The piece is likely a pen and ink with a bit of watercolor, though I am not 100% sure. It is not a print of any type (no Benday dots) and is on a piece of paper with a watermark saying “Hamilton Ledger”. Undated and unsigned, but titled “Le Suen” (translates as “Sound Familiar”). The back of the old frame has a note saying “Borda Gardens, Cuermuaca, Mexico”.
Borda Gardens was once part of a remarkable property created in the 1780s, with a garden design by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel tower fame). The estate is now a public park and museum, with cultural events hosted in the park. My guess is the artwork was created by a local Mexican artist who exhibited at a show in the Gardens, with my piece being purchased by visiting Americans. I would say 1950s due to style of paper.
I suspect any number of people would not find it attractive. Nor want it on their wall. The vibe is a bit “creepy” and the black bird doesn’t help the situation much. But the purpose of “art” is not always “decoration” – sometimes it is about noticing your response. This work creates a bit of unease, and made me think of the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954).
First let’s figure out what is making us uneasy. The perspective of the piece is a bit challenged, though possibly on purpose. The angle of the chair is distorted, and while the detailing is impressive, the artist pitched the chair in such a way that the piece doesn’t seem quite “right”. Also note the chair’s Victorian style clawed feet which adds to the ominous avian vibe. The scale of the girl to the chair is also off, as is the perspective of her sitting in the chair. She seems to be a young teen aged girl, but if so, the chair is huge as it dwarfs her. The dark hair, while likely culturally appropriate for someone of Mexican heritage, seems a bit sinister splashed against the pink chair. Then we add a black bird, freed from its charmingly detailed black cage, and calmly resting on the girl’s chest. Black birds are often a bad omen in popular lore. Like many things, however, there are other interpretations and black birds can also symbolize a new phase in one’s life. The title of the piece “Sound Familiar” certainly makes this a mystery.
I sense the work is inspired by Frida Kahlo (https://www.fridakahlo.org/frida-kahlo-paintings.jsp). Kahlo grew up and lived in Mexico City. Much of her work is autobiographical, and tends to be portraiture. She had polio as a young child and suffered a horrifying accident at age 18, derailing her medical training, and turned her to artwork. It also left her virtually crippled and in pain the remainder of her life. Her artwork reflects this, and much of it is disturbing (to me anyway). The small piece I purchased made me think about this because it made me question the “purpose” of art. Often times we use art as “decoration”, trying to complement our home with something pretty. While we seem to be ok reading books or watching movies full of disturbing issues, we shy away from hanging “creepy” things on our walls. I do wonder what the artist of “Sound Familiar” was trying to say, and I will continue to reflect on the power of art to cause us discomfort. Sometimes that’s not a bad thing.