Frida Kahlo’s The Self Portrait as a Tehuana portrays the artist wearing a traditional headdress from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Prominently displayed on her forehead is a portrait of her husband, Diego Rivera. She began painting the self-portrait in the year of her divorce from Rivera, with his presence clearly on her mind. Throughout her work, Kahlo celebrated Indigenous culture, which is evident in both the dress and other elements of this artwork. FRIDA KAHLO Self Portrait as a Tehuana (Diego on my Mind), 1943 © The Gelman Collection Frida Kahlo is widely regarded as the most iconic Mexican artist in history. While she gained recognition during her lifetime, it wasn’t until after her death in 1954 that she became the cultural icon we know today.