Born in Coyoacán, Mexico City, in 1907, Kahlo faced major health challenges from an early age, including polio and a devastating bus accident at age 18 that left her with chronic pain and medical complications for the rest of her life.
During her long recovery she began painting, often using herself as the subject. Her self-portraits combined realism with symbolism, drawing heavily on Mexican folk traditions and personal iconography. Although often linked to Surrealism, Kahlo insisted she painted her own reality rather than
