Birds that dont rise 

Fernanda Suarez painted ‘Birds that don’t rise’ sometime in the recent past. This work invites interpretations around themes of femininity and nature, particularly in how it might challenge or reinforce established social norms. The artist plays with visual codes: the vulnerable nude figure juxtaposed with ominous crows under a stark moon. The placement of the figure in a natural, almost Eden-like setting, reminds one of the Pre-Raphaelites. The painting is self-consciously progressive, critiquing the traditional male gaze of the nude with the woman averting her gaze. The artist seems to comment on the social structures of her own time. Understanding art requires us to reflect on the social and institutional contexts that underpin it. Scholarly articles and exhibition catalogues are useful research resources for such analysis. The meaning of art depends on its context, but it also has the power to challenge it.