Accession Number1993/1.115.3
TitleMother's Kisses: detail of son's face
Artist(s)Dotty AttieArtist NationalityAmerican (North American)Object Creation Date1982Medium & Supportlithograph with watercolor, on BFK wove paperDimensions 6 in x 6 in (15.24 cm x 15.24 cm);3 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in (8.9 cm x 8.9 cm);7 1/4 in x 7 1/4 in x 3/4 in (18.4 cm x 18.4 cm x 1.9 cm)
Credit LineMuseum PurchaseLabel copyFor more than twenty years Dotty Attie has adapted scenes from famous Old Master paintings, calling attention both to her sources and her reinterpretations. This lithograph culls the figures of Venus and Cupid from Bronzino's mid-16th century painting "The Exposure of Luxury." To this portrayal of incest she juxtaposes a series of details. These present fragments of their bodies, which fetishizes those anatomical parts. These details are interspersed with texts that comment ironically on this perverted mother-child relationship.
Subject matterThis face is that of Cupid from Bronzino's mid-16th century painting "An Allegory with Venus and Cupid," also known as "Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time" which have been sampled by Dottie Attie in the first image in this portfolio. By pulling Venus and Cupid, from the original painting and adding details and text via the other pages of the portfolio, such as this, Attie eliminates mythical references and symbols of Renaissance refinement and focuses in on the erotic undertones of the work.
Physical DescriptionThis small print shows a close up of Cupid's face, showing one of his eyes and an ear. He has dark curly hair.
Primary Object ClassificationPrintCollection AreaModern and ContemporaryRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
American (North American)
Venus
allegory (artistic device)
ball
crouching
cupids
feminists (people)
heads (animal components)
kisses
modern and contemporary art
mothers
nudes
seated
sons (people)
texts (documents)