Painting of the Week: “Let Them Eat Cake”

“Marie Antoinette, it turns out, was misrepresented in history. I can’t be sure, I wasn’t there, but many historians say her reputation was villainized from reality starting in her own lifetime. Our modern day American culture glorifies the sacrificing female role model to the point where many modern women feel guilty for doing almost anything for themselves. Marie is the antithesis of what we glorify today, and I say perhaps she has something to teach us. I’ve always felt the kindest thing anyone can do for the ones they love is take care of themselves. You can’t be any good for anyone else if you are not good to yourself first.This painting was directly inspired by Marie Antoinette as a symbol of it being “OK” to take care of yourself, to enjoy life, to celebrate the joy of womanhood, and to embrace being alive as a occasion in itself.

“Referencing Manet’s “Olympia,” I borrowed from history in the creation of this work. It’s a classical theme in a rebellion against modern demands on the feminine, in this unique time in history when we an have come so far and yet we have a ways to go in owning our equality. In the meantime, ‘Let them eat cake.'”