GEE3 – Reading in Visual Arts

Reading No. 3 – Elements of Art (Line)

Second Semester, A.Y. 2021-2022

Directions: After reading the given reference, answer the following questions.

Gateway to Art: Kahlo, The Two Fridas Using Line to Connect and Direct a Viewer’s Attention

1. Based on the reading, how did the line connect the areas of the painting and direct the
viewer’s attention?

Line is important in The Two Fridas because it unites different parts of the image
and guides the viewer's eye. The relationships between the Mexican artist Frida
Kahlo's family history, her husband, and her history of physical pain are all depicted
in this piece. The vein connecting the two images of Frida alludes to her background
as it winds from the Frida on the right, wearing traditional Tehuana clothes, to the
Frida on the left, wearing white European clothing (or bloodline). It connects her
Spanish-speaking, Native Mexican, and European parents. Occasionally a vein
disappears inside or under garments, suggesting that there are ongoing but concealed
lines. This red line is the main way that Frida's life story is conveyed. Other lines that
contribute to the composition's whole are the soft, wavy lines of the clouds and the
powerful, sharp outlines of the people. Each character gives this story of overcoming
hardship uniqueness.

2. What are the different types of lines that the artist used in this painting? How did these
lines contribute to the overall message of the artwork?

As it winds from the Frida on the right, the vein that connects the two representations
of Frida makes a reference to her ancestry. The bold, definite forms of the
individuals and the flexible, erratic lines of the clouds are two more lines that add to
the composition as a whole. Each adds a new layer of intricacy, which makes this
tale of overcoming adversity more difficult to understand. A vein sometimes
disappears inside or under the garment, leaving behind a continuous but hidden line.