"Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" is a symbolic self-portrait of Frida Kahlo surrounded by animals, insects and Mexican leaves from a cactus. She wears a necklace of thorns around her neck that represent pain and constriction from which a hummingbird hangs motionlessly. The hummingbird represents freedom and hope, the fact that it is dead presents a depressing metaphor.

On either shoulder sit a monkey and a black cat. The monkey is playing with the thorns and he represents the children that Kahlo could never have due to the accident. The cat signifies death and its position behind her shoulder suggests that she believes death is following her wherever she goes.

Above her head fly two dragonflies in a figure-8 motion. These could represent freedom or yet-to-be-had experiences and the fact that they are flying annoyingly above her head imply that they are out of reach, another depressing metaphor used by Kahlo.

Though "Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" looks like a warm and happy picture, we can tell through use of symbolism and meaning that it is actually a very sad and hopeless representation of Kahlo's life.