This is Frida's first self-portrait in which she includes one of her pets; a spider monkey named Fulang-Chang. In later years, other pets, such as parrots, dogs, and cats appear in her self-portraits. In this painting, a lavender ribbon links a seemingly happy and radiant Frida with her companion. When Frida painted this self-portrait, she was in the prime of her beauty, and her seductive powers were confirmed by her secret love affair with Leon Trotsky, who was living with his wife at the Rivera residence at the time. Frida gave this painting to her friend Mary Schapiro Sklar, sister of the art historian Meyer Schapiro. At the same time, she also gave her a mirror in a similar folkloric frame. Frida told Mary that the painting and the mirror should hang side-by-side so that Mary could always see herself next to Frida. [http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0170.html]