The Two Fridas

Look at me. I live in a special frame. Behind me, the sky is full of big, gray clouds. In front of the clouds, two friends are sitting on a green bench. They look like twins. They both have dark hair and the same quiet face. But wait, look closer. One friend wears a pretty white dress. The other wears a dress with bright blue and yellow colors. They are holding hands. One has a happy, whole heart. The other has a heart that looks a little bit open and sad. I am a painting, and my name is The Two Fridas.

An amazing artist named Frida Kahlo painted me. She used her brushes and colors to bring me to life a long, long time ago, in the year 1939. Frida lived in a warm, sunny place called Mexico. When she painted me, she had a very big feeling inside her heart. It felt like her heart was in two pieces. So, she painted her big feeling. One Frida is the part of her that remembered being happy, with a strong heart. The other Frida shows how she felt sad, with a hurting heart. She painted a little red line to connect them, showing they are both part of her. They hold hands to help each other feel strong and brave.

Frida wanted me to show the world that it is okay to have big feelings. It is okay to feel sad, and it is okay to feel strong. Sometimes, you can even feel both at the same time. When children and grown-ups look at me, they see my beautiful colors. They see that art can help you share what is in your heart. I am here to remind you that even when you feel a little sad, you are always whole and wonderful. Your feelings are like my paints, and every single color is important because it makes you who you are.