Frida's Ivory Hands by Karen Nijst

About "Frida's Ivory Hands"

by Karen Nijst

About the artwork

About 20 years ago, I was first introduced to the work of artist Frida. Kahlo was nowhere near as famous then as she is now.

By now, you could say that Frida has become a "hype" which is not to say that Frida bores me. On the contrary. Even though by now I have drawn her so many times that her face has become very familiar.

The earrings Kahlo is wearing in this drawing were a surprise, though. I did not know the story behind them. According to Google, Frida was supposed to have received those earrings - shaped like little hands - from Picasso. But according to the programme "Krabbé zoekt ..." this is not true. She got the ivory earrings from Dora Maar, artist and muse of Picasso. And that while she was deathly ill in a Paris hospital bed, recovering from a kidney infection. Dora came on a sick visit along with Picasso who was very charmed by Frida. To cheer her up, he taught her a happy song that she sang often until her death. Dora then gifted her those earrings. And not without reason. Frida's exotically beringed hands graced the cover of Vogue at the time, and Dora also liked to have herself portrayed with her beautiful hands prominently displayed. Later, Frida would make the "Self-portrait dedicated to Dr Eloesser" on which she wears these earrings. But that is another story.

The work is mostly drawn and coloured with homemade Procreate brushes. Personally, I am very charmed by the mocking 'come on' smile on her face. Very different from the stoic self-portraits we know of her.