Recorder Herstory
Giving Queer History Its Due
So much of recorded history ignores the leaders and icons of marginalized peoples. So many trailblazers deserved the grandiose portraits of yore, but never got them. The goal of the series this piece is a part of, “Recorded Herstory,” is to take some of the most well known paintings of epic moments in time and replace the subject with a queer icon. These paintings were done by genius’ with a specific message prioritized over accuracy— be it strength, nobility, beauty, or even the divine. Our icons deserve the same treatment. The series is an opportunity to percolate on the fact that despite not being portrayed as some of the world’s most influential members, we are just as deserving.
More about the individual pieces and the original works:
“Pay It No Mind” is a retelling of Emanuel Leutze’s famed painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” The piece is meant to commemorate the first action in a tide turning victory for the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. Though renowned as largely inaccurate to the actual incident, the piece depicts Washington as how he was revered and remembered: galant, graceful, and an undeniable leader. “Pay It No Mind” replaces the American Flag with the Progress Pride Flag and Washington with Marsha P. Johnson, known for being a trans woman who cast the first brick at the Stonewall Riots in 1969.
Price: $1300
“Venus Divine” is a retelling of Sandro Botticelli’s infamous piece “The Birth of Venus.” Venus, known as Aphrodite to the Greeks, is renowned as the epitome of beauty. In “Venus Divine,” Venus is replaced with Divine, the notorious drag performer known for his roles in John Water’s cult films. Their goal together was to shock and appall, and they did just that. He was an actor, a legend, and a trailblazer.
Price: $1500
“Our Leaders and Allies” is a retelling of Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People.” In the original piece Liberty is a goddess-like figure leading the people forward in revolution. She stands on a mound of corpses. In “Our Leaders and Allies,” the figure of Liberty is pictures as Sir Ian McKellen, a quiet but valiant leader of gay rights. The boy in the original piece is replaced with Sir Patrick Stewart, a long time ally to both Sir Ian McKellen and the gay community on the whole.
Price: $1200
“Long Live The Queens” is a retelling of Jacques-Louis David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps.” The original painting is a highly dramatized depiction of Napoleon crossing through the Great St Bernard Pass. In this piece, Napoleon is replaced with RuPaul Andre Charles. RuPaul can be credited with popularizing drag queens and drag culture and being a key player in establishing it as it is today.
Price: $1400
Materials:
Photoshop
Acrylic