Reflective Flesh 2003

Jenny Saville's "Reflective Flesh" is a striking example of contemporary figurative painting, grappling with the human form in an honest manner. The figures arranged in the mirror elicit immediate associations with the classical theme of the Three Graces. Yet, the traditional allegorical grace is subverted into brutal honesty, as this modern interpretation rejects idealization, embracing a raw, unvarnished depiction of flesh and the human form. Saville’s application of paint and emphasis on volume call to mind Rubens, another great painter of flesh. The visceral quality of the image, with its unflinching gaze into the corporeal, engages the viewer on a deeply subconscious level, stirring primal emotions related to mortality and the body. Thus, Saville’s imagery takes the classical themes through a transformative cycle, revealing a new interpretation that remains emotionally charged and universally resonant.