Danaë, after the works of Gustav Klimt and Elias of Nijmegen by MadameRuiz

About "Danaë, after the works of Gustav Klimt and Elias of Nijmegen"

by MadameRuiz

About the artwork

Danaë, Gustav Klimt's painting, is a beautiful painting that references the Greek myth of Danaë and and Zeus.

It was prophesied by an Oracle that Akrisios, father of Danae, would be killed by his grandson. Thereupon Danae, as Akrisios' only daughter, was imprisoned in a tower to prevent her from becoming pregnant. However, during her captivity, Danae was fertilized by Zeus in the form of a golden rain. That conception is the subject of the painting, starring Danae as a sleeping, innocent woman.

In my variation on Gustav Klimt's work, however, Danaë is not so innocent at all in this story. She looks seductively at the viewer, holding in her hand the white lily of Elias of Nijmegen. Symbolically, the white lily represents virginity and ripeness. The sweet scent of the lily symbolizes femininity. However, the white lily here is stained (due to age of the original work by Elias van Nijmegen).

Danaë's breast is clearly in view. Close-up of her winking face with red lips indicates an erotic complexion to this painting.

The painting is decorated with a multitude of details of flowers and paint drops. Main colors in this painting are purple, gold, beige pink and terracotta, with touches of white here and there, keeping the composition balanced.

Gustav Klimt's work inspires me. There is something alluring about it. Because of the detailing, because of the gold, but also because of the mischievousness of the women and the compositions.