Artist Review | ‘Reflective’ by Jenny Saville
Artist Review – Jenny Saville’s ‘Reflective’
Saville inserts herself into many of her paintings. She allows herself to explore intimate areas as she lays herself bare, vulnerable yet defiant in her approach. She completely changes the perspective on the once traditional classic female nude by giving the viewer an unfiltered, naked, and raw body, full of imperfection. This is amplified by the position in which she is angled, her open legs force the viewer to directly gaze and engage with her genitals as the mirrored reflection beneath her further emphasises this area as a focal point in the image. No elements are hidden, Saville unmistakably directs the viewer to the specific focal points she intends for them to observe in this piece. She presents herself from different viewpoints through the use of reflective mirrors, however, as the viewer we are also observing Saville as the artist, the model, the subject and perhaps the object. This raises a question: Is Saville engaging in self-objectification in this piece? Although very subjective to each individual, I interpret this work as Saville challenging prevailing body ideals and beauty standards. It seems as though she is depicting a representation of a woman in contemporary society.
She is not perfect or ideal like traditional/historical nudes. The positioning of her body on the canvas exudes dominance. Saville is in control of how she presents herself. She is not confined to traditional, idealised nude depictions, she extends beyond the canvas, free from regulation or containment. The intense facial expression and direct gaze almost look down at the viewer as we are confronted by Saville’s stare and very much aware of her nakedness. This further adds to the sense of power and control she has over herself in the painting and over the viewer observing it. Due to this masterful play of power dynamics, from my perspective, Saville is not engaging in self-objectification but rather revealing the reality of the female human body as she wishes us to perceive it.
More information | Who is Jenny Saville?
Jenny Saville is a contemporary British artist known for her innovative interpretations of the human body that challenge traditional representations. Her figurative paintings highlight the unfiltered, imperfect rawness of the body, as well as address powerful themes surrounding society and taboo subjects. Saville isn’t afraid to capture the reality of the female body and encourages the viewer to question their preconceived ideas surrounding body representation.
I’m particularly drawn to Saville’s distinctive and expressive paintwork that captures the rawness of the human body. The result is powerful, with thick layers of paint and built-up textures that mimic flesh-like qualities that give the subject a feeling of depth and realism on the canvas. Her paintings of the human body are complex and thought-provoking, which force the viewer to see the body from new and intimate perspectives.