formal analysis of "My Dress Hangs There" by Frida Kahlo

         The focal point of this painting is most certainly the dress, the main reason being its central location within in the painting. A second of the elements that makes this object the focal point is the complimentary colors within the dress--red and green. Another factor that makes the dress the focal point is the lines within this piece. A majority of the lines in this painting are running vertical, from the top to the bottom of the image. Two of the roofs of the larger buildings are on either side of the dress, pointing directly at the dress and drawing the viewer's attention to it. Also, the clothesline on which the dress is hanging lays horizontally, which draws attention to the dress in yet another way.
         The composition of this image is very balanced. It's not necessarily symmetrical, but where there is a figure on one side of the painting, there is a corresponding figure on the other side. For example, the toilet on top of the white column directly corresponds with the trophy on top of the beige column. Not only are the figures balanced, but the colors are as well. For example, the lady in the red dress wearing the black feather hat on the left side of painting is balanced with the red bridge and red building on the right side of the painting. Another example is the grays and blues within the buildings at the bottom of the painting are balanced with the grays and blues within the ocean at the top of the painting.