Genevieve 

Sarah Joncas’s Genevieve presents us with a striking, tattooed figure set against a backdrop of stylized waves. The artwork's engagement with tattoo culture invites us to consider the body as a canvas for self-expression. Tattoos are both personal declarations and statements of cultural identity, which challenges the traditional Western art world’s concept of the pristine, untouched body. The waves behind Genevieve may be a nod to Japanese art, further connecting her image to the global exchange of ideas that has long shaped artistic production. Understanding Joncas's work involves looking at the evolving role of figurative painting within contemporary art and studying the social and cultural meanings that tattoos carry in the 21st century. What kind of power dynamics are in play when a female artist paints a female nude? Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork lies not just in its visual elements, but in its engagement with broader dialogues about identity, representation, and the ever-changing landscape of art itself.