Celebrating the Feminine Vision in Art

Clare Menck, Nude swimmer, 2011. Estimate: R15 000 – 25 000

As we celebrate Women’s Month, Aspire Art's current Paintings Online Auction fittingly features a powerful lineup of notable women artists. While Women’s Day often conjures images of boldness and assertiveness, many women painters like Cape-based Clare Menck offer a refreshing perspective.

Menck’s evocative paintings portray the essence of womanhood in its most intimate and authentic form. The artist invites viewers to explore the quiet strength and natural beauty that define her subjects through her lyrical use of colour and expressive paintwork. Her approach to painting is both unreserved and unfiltered, presenting the human form in its most natural state - subjects are unadorned, devoid of the distractions of traditional portraiture, instead, stripping away these layers to reveal a raw and intimate view.

This is how Menck reclaims the female gaze, by shifting away from the objectified and idealised female form towards women being seen through a neutral lens – natural, without any airs or graces. This is a powerful commentary on women’s autonomy over their own bodies and narratives, but stated in the most subtle visual way.

Often venturing into realms typically hidden from public view, Menck’s paintings offer glimpses into the private moments of life. This exploration is evident in her series of nudes swimming, many of which are self-portraits. She redefines the traditional concept of self-portraiture, focusing not on defining facial features or personal attributes, but on the body's interaction with its surroundings. There is a desubjectivation at play, where the individual self becomes less defined and more amorphous, blending into the fluidity of the water.

Water is a recurring element in Menck's paintings and enhances the feminine vision she presents. The act of swimming symbolises a deep connection with nature, offering a sense of liberation and weightlessness. Menck's subjects float, free from earthly constraints, embodying a serene and liberated state of being. This portrayal not only emphasises the natural beauty of the human form but also celebrates the harmony between the body and its environment.

Explore other expressions of femininity by women artists in our Painting Online Auction, open for bidding until 13 August. 

Expressions of Femininity

View Paintings on Aspire's Painting Online Auction

Painting

1 - 13 August 2024

Discover more from Painting

SALE ENQUIRIES

Cape Town: +27 21 422 5100 | amy@aspireart.net

Johannesburg: +27 10 109 7989 | carina@aspireart.net