To keep silent would be wrong.
In the night of August 19, 2025, the 17-year old Lisa was killed violently while cycling home from Amsterdam.
Femicide.
Lucretia was a Roman noblewoman who lived 500 BC – more then 2500 years ago. She was raped by the son of the emperor.
After the rape she told everything to her father and brother, and they promised to avenge her. She then killed herself with a knife, after stating: ‘no sea is deep enough to drown my shame’.
This scene has been painted a thousand times but always with a masculine view. Why is Lucretia always (half) naked but the man who raped her gets away fully clothed? This is the male gaze – objectifying women.
So I turned it around.
In my painting, Lucretia avenges herself, stating ‘no sea is deep enough to drown your guilt’.
She is powerful. Instead of wallowing in undeserved shame, she puts the problem where it belongs: with the man who raped her.
She is dressed in white, the colour of innocence and purity. Because she is not guilty of what happened to her.
Sexual abuse, rape and violence against women are still trivialized. As if we asked for it.
I long for a world in which women can stand up for themselves without the risk of rape or death
I long for a world where men do not humiliate women
A world where I can cycle home and get there
I long for a world where I am safe