Frida Kahlo and Joy HesterDuring the 1940s and 1950s, the emergence of a strong female artistic influence can be seen using the examples of Joy Hester and Frida Kahlo. While Kahlo was recognized during her life as a brilliant independent artist for her personal and revolutionary style, Hester was not. It was only after his death in 1960 that his art was truly celebrated in Australian exhibitions. Both Hester and Kahlo attended art schools in the 1920s and 1930s; for this reason, they share many of the same basic artistic influences. Surrealism played a large role in the development of their art, particularly in the works of Kahlo which are often associated with surrealism. Expressionism was another influence they shared, but it played less of a role in their art as its development did not begin until the 1950s. Both of these movements and those that preceded them were dominated by men and, as such, it was the masculine conditioning of the time that dictated the undesirability of women painting their own lives. Yet that is exactly what these women did. It is this autobiographical nature of their work that makes them not only similar but also innovative artists, questioning the conceptions of the time. Their husbands were both influential and successful artists, but these women retained their independence and these shared influences created two artists who made strides in the women's art movement. When it comes to the art world, Hester and Kahlo's influences were very similar however in geographic area. world, they couldn't have been further apart, and these local influences are evident, particularly in Kahlo's use of Mexican and Aztec symbols. 'Self-Portrait with Monkeys', 1943, demonstrates Kahl's extensive use of traditional symbols typical...... middle of paper ......tity in itself. These vines are also reminiscent of a canvas, relating to Kahlo's use of nature and nature symbols in her art. The vine-like web suggests the nature of the spider web, in which the much larger female consumes the smaller male or smaller flies. Each being a vital element to the spider's survival, just as Diego was to Kahlo. These women challenged the limits of a male-dominated era in producing autobiographical works that included controversial subjects (themselves, among others) and combined new art styles. . They fought against the preconceptions that surrounded them and in their personal lives they fought to continue painting until their untimely deaths due to illness. Frida Kahlo and Joy Hester are inspiring women artists who painted beautiful, groundbreaking paintings, furthering the women's art movement..