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 by the male gaze, predominant throughout art history. Why is Lucretia always (half) naked but the man who raped her gets away fully clothed?
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 guilt where it belongs: with the man who raped her.
She is dressed in white, the colour of innocence and purity.
By obtaining this print, you speak up against violence against women and support me as an artist