In the painting “What the Water Gave Me” by Frida Kahlo, we see a woman in a bathtub with her hair flowing around her. The water is clear and we can see her reflection in it. She is looking at us, and her expression is one of sadness and resignation.
The painting is based on a poem by Kahlo’s husband, Diego Rivera, which talks about how the water is a symbol of life and how it can give us everything we need, but also take everything away. Kahlo was known for her self-portraits, and this painting is no exception. She often used her own image to explore the themes of her life, such as her Mexican heritage, her marriage, and her own physical and mental health.
In this painting, she seems to be grappling with the idea of her own mortality. The water is both a life-giving force and a reminder of the fragility of life. Kahlo was no stranger to death, having suffered a number of miscarriages and a devastating bus accident that left her in pain for the rest of her life.
In “What the Water Gave Me”, she is perhaps trying to make sense of her own relationship to death and life.
In 1998, Frida Kahlo’s painting “What the Water Gave Me” was auctioned off for $5.6 million, making it the most expensive painting by a female artist at the time. The painting is a self-portrait that Kahlo painted while she was recovering from a miscarriage. It is full of symbolism and hidden meanings.
The painting shows Kahlo in a bathtub, surrounded by objects that have personal significance to her. There is a broken column, which represents her spinal injury. The roses are a symbol of her love for Diego Rivera.
The fetus in a jar is a reminder of her miscarriage. And the water, of course, is a symbol of life and fertility. Kahlo was a master of using symbolism in her paintings to express her innermost thoughts and feelings.
“What the Water Gave Me” is a beautiful and haunting painting that captures the pain and hope of a woman who has suffered a great loss.

Credit: www.fridakahlo.org
What the Water Gave Me painting symbolism?
The painting “What the Water Gave Me” by Frida Kahlo is a symbolic representation of her life and her relationships. The different elements in the painting all have specific meaning and can be interpreted in many ways. Here is a closer look at the symbolism in “What the Water Gave Me”:
The water in the painting is a symbol of life and fertility. It is also a reminder of the Mexican tradition of baptism, which is very important to Kahlo. The water represents both the beginning and the end of life, as well as the constant cycle of change.
The fish in the painting are a symbol of Kahlo’s husband, Diego Rivera. Fish are often associated with water and fertility, so they represent Rivera’s role in Kahlo’s life as a provider and a father figure. The fish also symbolize Kahlo’s own creativity and imagination, as well as her ability to adapt and change.
The flowers in the painting are a symbol of Kahlo’s own femininity and strength. Flowers are often associated with women, and Kahlo was a very strong and independent woman. The flowers also represent Kahlo’s love of nature, and her connection to the natural world.
The roots in the painting are a symbol of Kahlo’s connection to her Mexican heritage. Roots are often associated with family and tradition, and Kahlo was very proud of her Mexican roots.
What the Water Gave Me painting medium?
In Frida Kahlo’s “What the Water Gave Me,” the artist uses a variety of painting mediums to create her work. Kahlo uses oil paints, watercolors, and even some collage elements in this piece. The oil paints are used for the majority of the painting, giving it a smooth and polished look.
The watercolors are used in the waves and water, giving them a more fluid and natural appearance. The collage elements are used in the boat and the fish, adding texture and interest to the painting. Kahlo’s use of different painting mediums in “What the Water Gave Me” creates a unique and beautiful work of art.
Each medium brings its own qualities to the painting, making it a truly unique piece.
What the water gave me meaning?
In “What the Water Gave Me,” Virginia Woolf uses water as a metaphor for the fluidity of time and memory. The narrator recalls her childhood spent near the river Ouse in Sussex, England. She remembers how the river would change with the seasons, sometimes calm and serene, other times wild and uncontrollable.
These changes mirrored the changes in her own life, as she grew from a child into a woman. The water was always there for her, though, as a constant reminder of the passage of time. It was a place of solace and reflection, where she could think about her life and what it meant to her.
In the end, the water gave her a sense of peace and understanding. It was a place where she could feel close to her deceased mother, and to the natural world that she so loved.
Who Owns What the Water Gave Me?
In the poem “Who Owns What the Water Gave Me?”, the speaker reflects on the ownership of the things that the water has given them. The speaker begins by asking who owns the water that has given them life. The water has given them air to breathe, food to eat, and a place to live.
The speaker then asks who owns the air, the food, and the land. The speaker concludes by asking who owns the water that has given them all of these things. The speaker’s reflection on the ownership of the things that the water has given them highlights the importance of water in our lives.
Water is essential for life and it is something that we all rely on. The speaker asks who owns the water that has given them life, and the answer is that we all do. We all have a responsibility to take care of the water that sustains us.
Animation of Frida Kahlo: What the Water Gave Her painting
What the water gave me print
The water gave me print is a beautiful print made by artist, Gabriella Bujdoso. It is inspired by a poem by Federico García Lorca. The print is made up of many different shades of blue, which represent the different emotions that the poem describes.
The print is also adorned with stars, which represent the hope that the poem speaks of.
What i saw in the water
I was swimming in the ocean when I saw something in the water. It looked like a fish, but it was much larger than any fish I had ever seen. I swam closer to get a better look and realized that it was a whale!
I had never seen a whale up close before and it was an amazing experience. I watched as it swam through the water, gracefully moving its huge body. I was in awe of this majestic creature and the power it had.
I will never forget the time I saw a whale in the wild.
Conclusion
In her painting “What the Water Gave Me,” Frida Kahlo captures the pain and suffering she endured after a devastating bus accident. The painting is a self-portrait that shows Kahlo’s injuries, including her broken spine, in graphic detail. Kahlo uses the water as a metaphor for the pain and suffering she experienced.
The water is also a symbol of hope and healing. Kahlo’s painting is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
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