With an unflinching gaze, Frida Kahlo faces viewers in Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. One among dozens of self-portraits, it reveals a complex individual through its layered symbolism. A monkey manipulates a veritable crown of thorns. Two flower-dragonfly chimeras hover overhead. The hummingbird, traditionally a hopeful love charm, presents as an oppressive weight when hanging from her throat—yet with its wings spread as if in flight, it echoes the sweep of the artist’s brows, her upright strength and resilience. Drawing upon motifs in Mexican culture, Aztec mythology, and Catholic iconography, Kahlo’s carefully crafted scene alludes to her own interpretation of each element, offering intensely personal references interwoven with broader views on identity, culture, resistance, and creativity.