Persephone

By Jennifer Smith – View Artist’s Profile ➤

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In my current body of work I am exploring concepts of the female gaze through depictions of Greek mythology and Greek Goddesses. The recurring upside down faces are a symbol of the times we live in.

In parallel to the theme of Equinox I was instantly inspired to create 2 paintings based on the stories of Persephone, Goddess of Vegetation and The Underworld and her mother Demeter, Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Sacred Law and the Harvest.

In the painting,  simply titled “Persephone” I wanted to represent her with her wings spread in joy and moving towards the sun. However,  as is the cycle of nature and her destiny I wanted to keep her partly in the darkness. I use a loose and expressive application of paint to portray her in flux as she returns to earth and initiates Equinox.