Portrait of Wendy 1984

Brett Whiteley captured this image of Wendy on canvas. It is a portrait that dives deep into the wellsprings of inspiration and creation. Note the languid pose, reminiscent of classical odalisques, yet rendered with a distinctly modern, almost confrontational gaze. Wendy's reclining figure echoes the Venus Pudica, a motif seen throughout art history, where modesty and allure intertwine. Yet, Whiteley subverts this tradition, inviting us to question the very act of seeing. Consider the surrounding objects. There's a drawing of lush vegetation, perhaps a symbol of untamed nature, juxtaposed with glasses of wine, hinting at the pleasures and excesses of life. The presence of these symbolic objects acts as a dreamlike language. This painting touches on a collective memory of feminine representation and artistic creation, inviting viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of artistic expression.