F
© Copyrighted Artwork
This artwork is protected by copyright. We cannot display images of works by artists who passed away after 1954.
See the original at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York
Fulang-Chang and I
by Frida Kahlo, 1937
Details
- Year
- 1937
- Medium
- Oil on composition board
- Size
- 40 cm × 27.9 cm (15.7 × 11 in)
Frida Kahlo painted this Fulang-Chang and I in 1937, showing herself with her pet spider monkey against a green jungle background. A pink ribbon connects them, suggesting an intimate bond. The monkey was a companion during her many months of convalescence.
Kahlo kept many exotic pets at Casa Azul, including monkeys, parrots, and hairless dogs. In Mexican folklore, monkeys symbolize lust, but Kahlo transforms Fulang-Chang into a nurturing companion. The painting was originally paired with a mirror frame containing a smaller portrait. They were later separated. This panel hangs in MoMA.
