The following information is NOT printed on this postcard: Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter. She painted using vibrant colors in a style that was influenced by indigenous cultures of Mexico and European influences including Realism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Many of her works are self-portraits that symbolically articulate her own pain. Kahlo was married to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. In Self-Portrait with Monkey, Kahlo's signature icon (her joined eyebrows) is emphasized. She chose a monkey as her companion because she admired its childlike and playful nature. The apparently naïve (unschooled) drawing, bright and bizarre colors, and dramatic and fantastical images reflect her inspiration in native Mexican art.

Kahlo's work was not widely recognized until decades after her death. Often she was popularly remembered only as Diego Rivera's wife. It was not until the early 1980s, when the artistic movement in Mexico known as Neomexicanismo began, that she became very prominent. This movement recognized the values of contemporary Mexican culture. During the same decade other factors helped to establish her success. The movie Frida, naturaleza viva (1983), was a huge success. Also during the same time, Hayden Herrera published a determinant and influential biography: Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo, which became a worldwide bestseller. On June 21, 2001, she became the first Hispanic woman to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp. In 2002, the American biographical film Frida, directed by Julie Taymor, in which Salma Hayek portrayed the artist, was released. The film was based on Herrera. It grossed US$ 58 million worldwide.