Jenny's Noodle

July 6, 2010: The Google doodle honors artist Frida Kahlo.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was born 103 years ago today and Google is celebrating the occasion with another one of their creative doodles.

In case you haven't brushed up on your art history lately, here are 10 fun facts you may not know about the artist known simply as Frida:

1) Frida's father, Wilhelm Kahl, a Jew of Hungarian-German origin, was 19 when he sailed from Germany to Mexico. He changed his name, "Wilhelm Kahl," to a more Spanish sounding name, "Guillermo Kahlo," and traded his Jewish religion for atheism.

2) Frieda—who later changed the spelling of her name to Frida—was not born in a hospital, but at the home of her parents, also known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House), in Coyoacán, Mexico.

3) At age 6, Frida was struck with polio affecting the use of her right leg. Her leg grew very thin, and her foot was stunted in its growth. Frida tried to hide her deformity by wearing pants, long skirts or two pairs of socks on her right foot.

Roots (1943) by Frida Kahlo.

4) Frida initially studied to become a doctor, not an artist. During school, she joined the political group "Los Cachuchas" and changed the date of her birth to 1910, the year the Mexican Revolution began.

5) On September 17, 1925, Frida was riding a bus that was struck broadside by a tram. She sustained multiple injuries, including a broken pelvic bone and spinal column. The accident left her unable to have children, so during her recovery she created a birth certificate for an imaginary son named Leonardo.

Frieda and Diego Rivera (1931) by Frida Kahlo.

6) During rehabilitation from her accident, Frida began to concentrate on painting and created her first serious work, Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress (1926). In 1928, she met artist Diego Rivera and developed a love interest for him. The two married on August 21, 1929; Frida was 22 and Diego was 42.

7) Frida and Diego had a tumultuous relationship, each having numerous extramarital affairs; Frida was also known to have relationships with women, including artist Georgia O'Keeffe. The couple divorced on November 6, 1939 but later remarried on December 8, 1940.

8) On July 13, 1954, seriously ill with pneumonia, Frida died in the Blue House. The cause of death was officially reported as "pulmonary embolism." Suicide was suspected but never confirmed. Frida's last written diary entry reads: "I hope the exit is joyful—and I hope never to return—Frida."

9) The Blue House in Mexico City is now a museum housing artifacts of Frida's life; the landmark is a popular tourist destination.

10) On June 21, 2001, Frida became the first Hispanic woman to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp. In 2002, the American biographical film Frida, in which Salma Hayek portrayed the artist, was released.

The Two Fridas (1939) by Frida Kahlo.

[via Wikipedia, Frida Kahlo fans]