Frida Kahlo’s career as a painter began largely because of a catastrophic bus accident at age 18. The accident left her with a broken spine and a lifetime of chronic pain. During her long recoveries, she was often confined to her bed. Her mother had a special easel made that allowed her to paint while lying down, and a mirror was placed above her bed so she could see herself. This is why a significant portion of her work consists of self-portraits. Kahlo famously said, 'I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.' Her work is a vibrant blend of traditional Mexican folk art and surrealist elements, often exploring themes of physical suffering, identity, and her complex marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera.