Oil on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the back.

This painting is inspired by the often untold story of Medusa. Medusa’s story starts with her as an attractive young woman, with beautiful ringlets of hair. So alluring is her beauty, that while she was praying at the temple of Athena, she catches the eye of the sea god Poseidon, who rapes her (or seduces her, depending on who is telling the story). Athena, who is so enraged at her temple being defiled, takes out her revenge on Medusa by taking away Medusa’s most prized feature: her hair. This is reminiscent of Rapunzel who is punished for sleeping with a prince by having her hair cut off.

Athena makes Medusa unappealing to men by turning her hair into writhing snakes. If that isn’t enough, Athena ensures Medusa will forever remain alone by gifting her with a gaze that turns others to stone. Medusa, not wanting to hurt anyone, retreats to a dark cave. This painting shows Medusa both before and after her transformation. In this sliding doors moment she is simultaneously remembering who she used to be, whilst seeing herself in the future. In both versions she remains an innocent, thoughtful person, who is often misrepresented as a dangerous monster.