Atropa Belladonna 

Sarah Joncas created 'Atropa Belladonna,' a haunting portrait that merges the contemporary with the echoes of historical archetypes. Joncas, born in 1986, engages with the female form through a lens that is both alluring and unsettling, reflecting the complex terrain of modern femininity. The painting’s title references the deadly nightshade plant, known for its toxic beauty and historical use as a cosmetic to dilate pupils, enhancing allure but at a deadly cost. The woman's pallid skin and the monochromatic palette, punctuated only by the blush of her lips and the flora, evoke a sense of unease. She holds a bloom, a symbol of transient beauty, while the dark backdrop and encroaching vines hint at themes of mortality and the darker aspects of beauty. Joncas captures a tension between vulnerability and power, inviting us to consider how women are often entwined with nature, beauty, and danger. 'Atropa Belladonna' encapsulates the artist's reflection on the intoxicating yet perilous ideals of beauty and femininity.