Kahlo defines retablo as a compendium of sculpture, paintings and images with religious connotation connected by an architectural frame, which ornamented the backside of the main altar i.e. altar mayor and the capillas meneres i.e. secondary chapels of churches and cathedrals. They were usually painted on wood or canvas. They played a strong edifying purpose and thus contributed to a great extent to the comprehending of the holy texts and honoring holy persons who could sometimes be referred to as painted images. (Maria, 21)
Retablo could also be used to mean the small oil-paintings that could depict a saint, the Virgin Mary, Christ or a collection of people who are holy.
Retablos showed emotional superiority which results in the naïve commencement of the human composition and influential feeling for animated color as well as ornamentation.
Ex-voto on the other hand could also be referred to as retablos-ex-votos. They majorly showed marvelous cure through a show of person(s) offering prayers for the sick, normally lying in bed. In them, there is a depiction of people are responsible for the healings on earth through invocation by man.
2-How did these two art forms inform the work of Frida Kahlo?
These two art forms really helped Kahlo in her daily contemplations at her home as well as the studio. It is said that her home and the studio were good aesthetic and cultural source of her inspiration
These two arts also helped her incorporate some religious aspects from the real life. From the way events unfold; from her past and present, her private suffering depicts some emotional link from the religious perspective. (Maria, 22)
Works cited:
Maria A. C.FridaKahlo’s Spiritual World: the influence Mexican Retablo and Ex-voto Paintings on her art. Worman’s Art Journal, Vol. 25, No. 2. Woman’s Art Inc. 2005
