Frida Kahlo suffered the bus accident that caused lifelong injuries in 1925.
On September 17, 1925, a bus carrying Kahlo collided with a streetcar in Mexico City. She sustained extensive injuries, including damage to her spine, pelvis, and leg. A metal handrail reportedly pierced her body, and she spent long periods recovering in bed.
During her convalescence, Kahlo’s family arranged a special easel and mirror so that she could paint while lying down. This period helped turn painting from an activity into a central vocation. Her early self-portraits emerged in the context of physical confinement and close observation of her own face and body.
The accident did not instantly create a fully formed artist, and Kahlo had already shown intellectual and creative interests. It did, however, profoundly alter her health and daily life. It is also distinct from the polio she experienced as a child.