Persephone
In Greek mythology Persphone is the Daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She is known for her beauty
and many Gods are infatuated by her. To protect her, Demeter brings her to the island of Sicily, where she is happy and carefree passes her time weaving and being outside in the fields, picking flowers.
But her father Zeus had promised her to his brother Hades, the God of the Underworld. He uses his other daughters to take her to an open field where Hades then abducts her. Persephone is heartbroken but Hades tries to comfort her: “you will be the star, the light in the darkness. As my queen of the autumn, you will always wear a crown with golden fruits in your hair. Kings will kneel at your feet, stripped of their splendor, for death makes all men equal…”
In the meantime, Demeter, anxious and full of sorrow, searched for her daughter, and finally she discovered the truth.
She begged Zeus to bring her daughter back to the living. Zeus gave in but warned her that it would only be possible if she would not eat anything in the Underworld. But Hades tricked Persophone and fed her 6 tiny seeds. For this reason, Persephone could now stay with her mother and sisters in the land of the living from spring until autumn, for 6 months, and then she had to return to Hades. That is why in spring the crops emerge, the flowers open and show their exceptional color splendor.
In addition to this mythogical aspect, this painting is an ode to women. Their beauty, their depth and mystery, their softness, their ability to connect, their shadow and silence, their alchemical and transformative power in the form of the butterfly, and their wild soul in the form of the wolf.
In this painting, the wolf has a double meaning. First, he is a symbol for guiding the dead and refers to Hades, the God of the underworld, just like a raven.
Secondly, the wolf represents a female archetype, described in Clarissa Estés’s book “The Indomitable Woman”. The wolf soul, according to Clarissa, naturally houses a vital and powerful energy. The wolf is strong, knows how and when to show her strength, even if it was not actively needed for a long time. She is a fearless leader, instinctively a matriarch, protecting her pack, and leading others. She knows how to take care of herself and learns from her experiences. The wild woman is creative, passionate, instinctive and wise.
In my painting, this wild power is in balance with the beauty and refinement of the feminine. Finding this balance between the wild and gentle energy, the animus and the anima, can be a challenge. This painting helps you to remember that you are all: the light and the shadow. In embracing both sides and expressing both polarities, freedom awaits you.