Kahlo Beyond the Myth

Kahlo is now one of the most reproduced artists anywhere — her face sells t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags around the world. That fame comes with a twist: an artist who attacked conventional beauty has herself become a tidy brand.

The merchandise usually keeps the surface — the joined brows, the flowers, the folk dress — and quietly drops the politics underneath. The gift-shop Frida is safe and decorative. The real one was a committed radical who meant her paintings to take sides.