The Birth Of

The Birth of Venus, painted by Sandro Botticelli around 1480s was likely created for the Medici family and surely only for private viewing. In the painting her nakedness is fleeing and momentary - Hora is already waiting to cover her up. Captured by the artist in this vulnerable state her gaze shifts slightly away from the viewer, her hands trying to protect her modesty.

I saw reproductions of this painting since I was a child. In fact, it might have been the first nude that I was allowed to see. Her striking beauty, the gods awaiting her, the shower of flowers - I can almost hear them falling gently. Naturally, I was looking forward to seeing this painting in person. But once I saw her in the Uffizi gallery that feeling of innocence was lost. The room was crowded. The air was stiff. Venus was not a goddess anymore, she was more of a Lolita, fully aware of the people around her, looking back at us, used to more than 300 years of stares.

“The birth”, “The Girl”, “Flowerfall”, “Zephyr and Aura”, “Hora”

acrylic on canvas

36x46