Original Paintings & PRINTS | Anne-Louise Ewen
Art Inspired by Madeline Miller’s Circe: The Story Behind "Circe In Her Garden" and The Harpy (A Feminist Retelling)
As a contemporary artist, I am endlessly captivated by classical mythology. Following a deep dive into Madeline Miller's novel Circe, I found myself steeping in thoughts of reclaiming misunderstood stories —specifically how powerful female figures can be vilified over time. This inspired a fresh look at another monstrously treated figure: the Harpy. Here is the studio story behind my feminist retellings in oil paint and an exploration of how we can learn to own our power, unconcerned by the opinions of history.
2022 - Recently, I came across some delightful old etchings depicting harpies that I found inspiring. They were so immediately appealing to me, these mythological figures of ancient Greece with the head of a woman and the body of a bird. But a sort of vague memory of something I'd learned from school was tugging at me.
Wait a minute... Weren't the harpies ... bad?
I skimmed my memory and then the internet to try to clarify this apparent contradiction. Here's what they told me:
At one time (very long ago), the Harpies were depicted as beautiful, swift creatures who personified the winds.
Hesiod (c. 750-650 BCE) describes the harpies "fair-locked" and winged maidens. He praises them for their majestic swiftness, noting that they could outfly both birds and storms.
But over time, the descriptions of them became more and more monstrous. It was said that they stole food -- or pooped on it to ruin it. And they had bad breath.
The Aeneid, Virgil
"Bird-bodied, girl-faced things they are; abominable their droppings, their hands are talons, their faces haggard with hunger insatiable"
I couldn't help thinking -- This is just the kind of thing that an abuser would make up. History is written by the victors, but so is myth, religion, aesthetics, science.
I started thinking of other examples, like the Siren – a Half-bird, half-woman creature of Greek mythology, who lured sailors to their deaths with their beautiful singing voices.
Gimme a frickin’ break.
Explore sizes and framing options for the Circe In Her Garden Fine Art Print
Last year I read the novel Circe, by Madeline Miller (and made a painting about it), which re-imagines the story of Circe, “the witch”, from her own perspective rather than as a minor character in Odysseus’ journey.
The book is a wonderfully empathetic exploration of what it’s like being punished by the patriarchy in ways subtle and overt for not sufficiently hiding your strength and power. It also presents (fairly accurately, in my opinion) what it's like being misunderstood and under-appreciated in a toxic family dynamic and, as time goes on, romantic relationships.
Ultimately it's a celebration of what it can look like to live through all that and thrive on the other side of it with an even greater sense of your power and knowledge of who you are deep down in your bones. One really savors Circe's coming into her own.
Explore sizes and framing options for The Harpy Fine Art Print
So when I came across that old etching of the lovely Harpy, I had just finished reading Circe and was still steeping in all of those thoughts and feelings. The possibility of the harpies being vilified for being strong and different struck me like a revelation. I imagined them kicking the butts of all these trouble-making dumb bad guys who then go on to tell everyone that the harpies have bad breath and they poop on your food.
And that's whose story got passed on and shared for generations.
The “official” story of who you are can be so dead wrong.
If you've freed yourself from an oppressor, they probably aren't going to tell stories about what a nice, young lady you are -- but you will be free.
The etching inspired me to create a Harpy painting of my own.
I thought I would paint the Harpy, not as a monster, but as someone who is comfortable in her skin and thriving in her own sublime world.
I love to see her there enjoying the view from her high perch, wearing a crown of flowers surrounded by beautiful colors. It’s easy to imagine her summoning the power of her natural strength if she needs to right some wrong, defend her boundaries, or thwart injustice with her sharp talons. But for now, she just serenely being herself, unconcerned by stories and opinions. Having a great life.
Anne-Louise Ewen
