Carole Maso - Beauty is Convulsive - The Passion of Frida Kahlo

a pair of legs severed from their body and between them a pair of lips.

a blood red ribbon circling her neck now Diego don’t go.

Diego

Love me a little I adore you

the way the ribbon connects—

blood of Mexico

— transcends

because I loved you, wanted you.

promiscuous one,

a monkey tail encircles her neck

and lust is just another adornment (thorn necklace,

hummingbird)

a way of getting there

The monkey Frida naked, laughing. Fulang Chang! she cries, she paints.

Votive: devotion

egg, pagan, emblem of creation she paints

you are rejuvenation, you are spring and resurrection, sanctity of blood, beating wings as your teeth

As your teeth sink into him and you swear yourself once more into being.

turbulence of earth, puberty and you are back once more at the Preparatoria before, before …

Accident:

ferocious child of light

the broken eggs, maimed dolls, the figure blindfolded, the torn bridal canopy

And she smiles and she utters unearthly things and she utters not in any known language, in stars and pain, pulque she says I am devouring time and the earth

put it in my eyes now

votive: vision

I am not sick. I am broken.

I am happy as long as I can paint.

Between the Curtains (Self-Portrait Dedicated to Trotsky)

Fulang Chang and Myself

The Square Is Theirs (Four Inhabitants of Mexico)

I With My Nurse

They Ask for Planes and Only Get Straw Wings

I Belong to My Owner

My Family (My Grandparents, My Parents and I)

The Heart (Memory)

My Dress Hangs There

What the Water Gave Me

Ixcuintle Dog with Me

Pitahayas

Tunas

Food From the Earth

Remembrance of an Open Wound

The Lost Desire (Henry Ford Hospital)

Birth

Dressed Up for Paradise

She Plays Alone

Passionately in Love

Burbank — American Fruit Maker

Xochitl

The Frame

Eye

Survivor

I have a cat’s luck since I do not

die so easily and that’s always something.

Written by Dr. Henriette Begun in 1946

1926: Accident causes fracture of third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, three fractures of pelvis, eleven fractures of right foot, dislocation of left elbow, penetrating abdominal wound caused by iron handrail entering left hip, exiting through vagina and tearing left lip. Acute peritonitis. Cystitis with catheterization for many days. Three months bed rest at Red Cross hospital. Spinal fracture not recognized by doctors until Dr. Ortiz Tirado ordered immobilization with plaster corset for nine months. After three or four months of corset patient suddenly felt entire right side “as if asleep” for hour or more, this phenomenon giving way with injections and massage; symptoms not repeated. At removal of corset patient resumed “normal” life, but from then on has had sensation of constant fatigue and at times pain in backbone and right leg, which now never leave her.

1929:Marriage. Normal sex life. Pregnancy in first year of marriage. Abortion because of malformed pelvis. Wasserman and Kahn (W&K) tests negative. Constant fatigue and weight loss.

1931:In San Francisco, California, examined by Dr. Leo Eloesser. Given several tests, W&K among them, these resulting slightly positive. Two months treatment without a cure. No analysis of spinal fluid. In these days pain in right foot worse, atrophy up to thigh in right leg increases considerably, tendons of 2 toes in right foot retracted, making normal walking extremely difficult. Dr. Eloesser diagnoses congenital deformity of the backbone. X-rays show considerable scoliosis and apparent fusion of third and fourth lumbar vertebrae with disappearance of invertebrate meniscus. Small trophic ulcer appears on right foot.

1932:In Detroit, Michigan, attended by Dr. Pratt of Henry Ford Hospital for second pregnancy (four months) with spontaneous abortion despite bed rest and various treatments. Trophic ulcer continues to worsen.

1934:Third pregnancy. At three months abortion performed by Dr. Zollinger in Mexico. Exploratory laparotomy showed undeveloped ovaries. Appendectomy. First operation on right foot: excision of five phalanges. Extremely slow healing.

1935:Second operation on right foot, finding several sesamoids. Healing equally slow. Lasts nearly six months.

1936:Third operation on right foot. From that time on: extreme nervousness, fatigue in backbone with alternating periods of improvement.

1938:Consults specialists in bones, nerves and skin in New York. Dr. Glusker succeeds in healing trophic

ulcer with electrical and other treatments.

1939:Paris, France. Renal colobacteriosis with high fever. Continued backbone fatigue. Ingests great quantities of alcohol. At the end of this year has acute pain in backbone. Attended in Mexico by Dr. Farill, who orders absolute bed rest with twenty kilogram weight to stretch spine. Several specialists visit and all advise Albee operation: Dr. Albee himself advises same by letter. Dr. Marin and Eloesser oppose this. Fungus infection appears on fingers of right hand.

1940:Moves to San Francisco, California. Treated by Dr. Eloesser: absolute rest, very nutritious food, no alcohol, electrotherapy, calcium therapy. Slightly better, again lives more or less normal life.

1941:Again experiences exhaustion, with continuous weakness in back, violent pain in extremities. Weight loss, debility, menstrual irregularity.

1944:These years show significant increase in tiredness, backbone and right-leg pain. Seen by Dr. Zimbron, who orders absolute bed rest, steel corset which at first makes for more comfort but without stopping pain. When corset occasionally removed, feels lack of support as though unable to support herself. Complete lack of appetite continues with rapid weight loss. Weakness, nausea; ordered to bed, evening fever. Patient’s state continues worsening. Dr. Zimbron repeats analysis and x-ray, lumbar tap with lipoidal injection (third time). Reaches conclusion that she should be given a laminectomy and spinal graft. Eye examination shows papillary hypoplasia.

1945:Again made to wear plaster corset. Can be stood for only a few days because of intense pain in backbone and leg. In the three cerebrospinal taps there were lipoidal injections which were not eliminated: caused higher than normal cranial tension, continued pain in back of neck and spinal column, generally dull but stronger during nervous excitement. General state: exhaustion.

1946:Dr. Glusker advises patient to go to New York to see Dr. Philip Wilson, surgeon specializing in spinal operations. Leaves for New York in May. Carefully examined by Dr. Wilson and neurology specialists who consider spinal fusion necessary and urgent. Performed by Dr. Wilson in June this year. Four lumbar vertebrae fused with pelvis graft and fifteen-centimeter long vitalium plate; bed rest for three months. Patient recovers. Advised to wear special steel corset for eight months, lead calm, restful life. Obvious improvement noted for first three months after operation, after which patient cannot follow Dr. Wilson’s orders. Then not convalescing in due form, life filled with nervous agitation, little rest. Feels same fatigue as before, aching neck and backbone, debility, weight loss. Macrocytic anemia. Fungus again appears on right hand.