Self Portrait (after Titian) explores the relationship between historical representations of feminine beauty and the personal experience of living within society's changing ideals. Inspired by Titian, one of the great masters of the Venetian Renaissance, Janine Lees draws upon the richness and sensuality of his painting style, particularly his celebrated portrayal of Flora, the goddess of flowers and spring.

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In Titian's depiction, Flora embodies a vision of natural femininity, with pale skin, flowing auburn hair and a voluptuous figure. Lees recognises in these features a resemblance to her own appearance and uses this connection as the starting point for a deeply personal reinterpretation. By merging her own facial features with those of Titian's original figure, she inserts herself into the historical image, transforming an iconic representation of feminine beauty into a contemporary self-portrait.

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The painting reflects upon Lees's experiences growing up during the 1970s, when her red hair, pale complexion and fuller figure did not conform to the prevailing ideals of attractiveness. In contrast, contemporary Western beauty standards have often favoured a different image, characterised by a slender physique, bronzed skin and blonde or brunette hair. Through this juxtaposition of past and present, Lees questions the cultural expectations that shape how women perceive themselves and are perceived by others.

By recreating Titian's distinctive painterly language as faithfully as possible, Lees also undertakes a technical exploration of the Old Master's approach to colour, form and the treatment of flesh. Her close engagement with the original demonstrates both her admiration for the historical tradition and her ambition to bring its visual language into a contemporary context.

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Self Portrait (after Titian) ultimately becomes an assertion of identity and a reconsideration of beauty beyond the shifting fashions of any particular era. By placing herself within the image of a woman celebrated by an Old Master, Lees reclaims the features she once felt compelled to question, inviting viewers to reflect on the enduring influence of cultural ideals and the freedom to define beauty on one's own terms.

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Oil on canvas 100 x 76 x 2cm 

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Acquired