“This painting, titled ‘Venus,’ explores themes of heartbreak, intimacy and lost love. I drew inspiration from ‘Venus’ of Urbino by 16th-century Italian painter Titian, as well as ‘Olympia’ by Impressionist Édouard Manet. The historical archetype of the reclining nude female figure is turned on its head by putting the woman in the dominant artist’s position and a man in the position of the nude figure. The gaze in his eyes captures a moment of intimate trust and emotional burden that is shared between viewer and subject.”
Maria Spengel, Venus, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 30”