ELISE ANSEL REINTERPRETS THE WORKS OF OLD MASTERS INTO ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

Elise Ansel is an American artist who translates Old Master paintings into her own contemporary reinterpretations. Retaining their color, structure and meaning, she interrupts and deconstructs their pictorial language.

Her latest body of work looks through the lens of feminine subjectivity. Composed of over 15 paintings, Ansel responds to the masterpieces of artists such as Titian, Rubens and Delacroix, transforming scenes of violence against women into scenes of consensual pleasure. “Painters of that era used mythological content to explore eroticism,” says the artist. “My attack is on sexism, not on sex. My intent is to reclaim the erotic energy and discard the violent coercion.” 

Though her work tackles strong and significant issues, it never overshadows the sheer beauty of her paintings.