Artistic reinterpretation of strong feminist icons

Contemporarily seen as one of the most respected female painters of the Baroque, the majority of Artemisia Gentileschi’s paintings feature women as the principle figures and protagonists, which she borrowed primarily from biblical allegories like ‘The Book of Judith’. A new group exhibition at New Delhi-based Latitude 28 is inspired by her key boy of work.

Elaborating on the display, a press release states that it’s a representation of the reinterpretation of strong feminist icons through the use of historical and religious iconography to convey female empowerment in contemporary society. The distinctive use of ‘promiscuous imagery’ and violence symbolize a positive rebellion against the suppression of women as sexually and politically empowered beings. It adds:

Gentileschi’ post-Caravaggio depiction of ‘Judith and Holofernes’ is one of the most iconic early images associated with Feminism. The painting illustrates the Old Testament parable from the Book of Judith. It’s a classic tale of heroism at its core, but what makes this work particularly unique is the autobiographical elements.

Her depiction of the biblical, Judith represents her own struggle with her rapist, Agostino Tassi, as well as the lack of subsequent charges brought against him. Tassi was sentenced to one year in prison, time which he never served, and the events of her abuse culminated in lifelong inspiration for Gentileschi.

All the works in the group show is dually inspired by a female heroine and the artist herself as a strong female figure within the context of her own society. For instance, Anjali Bhargava’s work (Suffocation Series 2010) explores the different portrayals and physical attributes associated with Devi. The use of sensuality and seduction to convey divine beauty is representative of the somewhat confused societal expectations of mortal women.

Chitra Ganesh’s work pays homage to Rani of Jhansi - the warrior queen of India, and the counterpart to western heroines such as Judith and Joan d'Arc. Divya Mehra’s PANTS demonstrates the dominance and suppression of women in historically patriarchal societies. Samira Abbassy and Sangeeta Sandrasegar's works explore the power of femininity and strength in goddesses such as Kali and Durga within the Hindu context, while applying autobiographical elements to their illustrations.