Adelita, Pancho Villa and Frida

The Adelita, Pancho Villa and Frida (1927) Oil on canvas mounted on board 65 x 45 cm. 25 5/8" x 17 3/4" Tlaxcalteca Institute of Culture Tlaxcala, Mexico

After recovering from her near fatal bus accident, Frida was once again with her old schoolmates. She began to get involved with politics, following revolutionary ideas and rediscovering her Mexican roots. In this primitive "Cubist" style painting, she portrays herself in the center, with a portrait of the revolutionary leader Pancho Villa above. She is flanked by two pictures of very different styles and themes. The one to her right is a convoy of revolutionary Zapatistas and their "soldieras" women "Adelitas" crossing the valley of Mexico. In the background is Mexico's famous volcano, Popocatpetl. The other picture to her left is a modern abstract view through an architectural structure across a tiled floor. In this painting she seems to try to combine both ideas, the Revolution and Mexicanism. She is using the popular song "The Adelita" as part of the title for this painting. "Adelita" is a camp-following young woman who bewails the departure of her soldier lover. The theme of this painting was influenced by "estridentismo", a recent movement in Mexico whose purpose was to develop social awareness and express rebellion against the system. Although the movement was primarily a literary trend it soon found its way onto the canvas. Artist who embraced the "estridentismo" movement would often meet in city cafes to discuss their ideas. This painting was intended to depict one such group meeting. Before starting this painting, Frida first drew a pencil sketch. The sketch was much more detailed and complex and very different from the painting that followed. Missing from the painting are most of the group members. Only one, a faceless man, appears in the painting along with Frida. These differences may suggest that the painting is an unfinished work.