Most recent paintings
This year my reference has been illness itself, traditionally images of sick women were commissioned as propaganda - a way of ensuring that women did not stray from domesticity, for if they did they would end up as the poor souls depicted in the paintings ( as with Jan Steen's Lovesick Maiden's).
My own interpretation, is that images of sick women should be empowering to women, in deed they are of illness and suffering, but out of suffering comes enormous stregnth. These paintings depict a very dark side of illness, whether self inflicted or Crohnic, (as is the inspiration)but,they depict woman, not as object, but as subject - she is not there to please, or to be used. She is simply there.
My own interpretation, is that images of sick women should be empowering to women, in deed they are of illness and suffering, but out of suffering comes enormous stregnth. These paintings depict a very dark side of illness, whether self inflicted or Crohnic, (as is the inspiration)but,they depict woman, not as object, but as subject - she is not there to please, or to be used. She is simply there.
