MoMA Observation: Family Tree

This is an artwork named My Grandparents, My Parents and I (Family Tree), by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), created in 1936. 

I consider this artwork very interesting. It drew my attention when I saw it because of its unique composition: a family tree consists of family members who are connected with umbilical cord. I love the symbolism the artist used that red umbilical cord connected with family members stands for the bond between them. It is so creative and original. The bond between family members is consisted of blood and love. It should be something visualized like umbilical cord rather than simple lines. Umbilical represents warmth, nutrition and love while lines are just cold lines. I love this detail about symbolism so much that I feel excited about this painting and there is a strong curiosity rise up from my heart that push me to search for more details. 

The painting has rich colors, while the red is the strongest, which is great to emphasis the the umbilical cord: the strong connection between family members. The composition is the second detail that makes me feel excited: The grandparents are above in the clouds, meaning they are in the heaven now. The parents are in the middle, but the mother is higher than the father. According to the clothes they wear, they are likely taking wedding photograph: The mother is standing, placing one of her hand on the sitting father’s shoulder. This position that the parents appear in different height is of great thoughts, because this painting will become much more boring if parents are in the same height just like the way grandparents do. The background is mountain and sea and the parents are locating outside of the house, in the background. This shows that parents are protecting their home and children. The little girl in the lowest level holding the umbilical cord as well as the embryo in the mother’s body add more fun and detailed informations to the whole piece. 

Besides the different generations of the family, there are other elements that show reproduction: the flower and the pollen, the egg and the sperm. Both in the left corner of the painting. Element like the cactus probably represents the thriving life. This artwork reminds me of my family members and the bond between us, which makes me feel warm and strong in the foreign country. I love the artwork so much because it is so delicate in symbolism and in composition.