The subject of this painting contains many elements that derive from ancient Mexican mythology. Frida’s inability to have children pushed her to adopt a motherly role in regards to Diego. In the center of the painting they hold her husband Diego in a loving embrace, illustrating the combined relationship of men and women, although the woman is the figure that feeds life, the man has the third eye of wisdom on his forehead, so they depend on each other. Embracing the human couple is the Aztec mother Earth, Cituacoatl made of mud and stone, the figure that is in the outermost part of the Universal Mother, embraces Cituacoatl. On the front, the dog Itzcuintli Señor Xolótl is more than just one of the artist’s pets. Xolótl represents a being that has the shape of a dog and protects the entrance to the Beyond. In this painting Frida presents life, death, night, day, sun, moon, man and woman; all in a recurring dichotomy that is deeply linked and held together by two powerful magical beings.
