As you may have guessed, Marxism Will Give Health to the Ill by Frida Kahlo is political propaganda in favor of Communism.

Now that the obvious has been stated, we can get into the whys and hows. Why did she choose this title? Probably because it was catchier than her original title, Peace on Earth so the Marxist Science may Save the Sick and Those Oppressed by Criminal Yankee Capitalism and also because it is supposed to influence people to “serve the Party” and “benefit the Revolution.” Lots of people were on the communism train during this time and Frida especially believed that it could ease some of her pain. As you can see in the painting, Frida is taking what we assume is the Communist Manifesto (the red book in her hand) in favor of her crutches, which she definitely needs because by the time she painted this piece, her foot had already been amputated due to gangrene.

She is being picked up like a child by the large hands of Marxism. On one side are all nice things like the dove, which represents peace, as well as the Earth and moon. On the other side is a mushroom cloud, some sort of man-turkey, which we’re assuming is a representation of capitalism, and scorched earth. There is definitely an implication that there is a good side and an evil side and that Frida is saved by the good side. As for the rest of us, we have a choice to make.

Frida made an incredible comment about this piece. She said, "For the first time, I am not crying anymore." In many of Frida’s paintings, she depicted large tears dripping down her face due to Diego’s adultery, or the pain the wracked her body for her entire life. This is an amazing argument for the joining of the Communist Party, purely because of Frida’s hope. Here is a woman who has gone through complete and utter hell and has come out on the other side, not entirely suicidal, and maybe even a little hopeful. It must be a Communist miracle!