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Mythology

There is no single mythology. There are, however, multiple, mysterious mythologies, which have been sources of fascination and terror across the centuries. Starting in Ancient Egypt and passing through Greece and Rome, we find ourselves in Scandinavia, the birthplace of Celtic myths. Art has always been linked to beliefs, and each of these belief systems and mythologies has their own aesthetic codes and cultural practices. The most popular version of mythology is undoubtedly the Greco-Roman variations, which have been retold and reconfigured time and time again throughout the ages. It has also served as a constant source of inspiration for artists, allowing them to reference common themes which facilitated the interpretation of their works. Nowadays, mythology can therefore be found in all possible artistic forms.

Apart from Antiquity, during which it was commonplace, Greco-Roman mythology first came to the fore during the 15th century. By definition, during the Renaissance it was well seen to imitate the classics by using their codes and allegories.One of the most famous example of this period is Botticelli's Venus and its virginal splendour. Venus, in fact, is one of the figures most appreciated by artists, inspiring among other things Ingres for his Grande Odalisque or Manet's Olympia. More recently, the Venus of Milo was revisited, notably by Hans Peter Feldmann and Jim Dine.

From the 16th to the 18th century, mythological paintings symbolized an ideal world for artists, nostalgic for the lost unity between man and nature. As an instrument of political propaganda, mythology was used for the glorification of monarchs and their court, syncretised in allegorical paintings. Finally, for aesthetes, mythological motifs catalysed a certain sensuality serving the ideal of pure beauty and mad passions sought by artists. Driven by the Gustave Moreau's symbolic reflections, mythology became a powerful philosophical vector at the end of the Belle Epoque.

During the 20th century, it was Klimt who was passionate about Greek aesthetics in his representation of the female figure. His representation of Danae and  while Pallas Athena embodies the woman of power. Mirroring his own situation, he painted Sappho as a melancholic artist. Recently, great names such as Jeff Koons in his Gazing Balls or Banksy through his sculptures re-used the aesthetics of the Greek statue. The American artist Adam Reeder reclaims mythology from a perspective of social commentary, representing Greek gods and heroes interacting with Apple products. In photography, too, myth inspires. Kimiko Yoshida's "Paintings" series, for example, includes famous works such as Veronese's Venus, giving them a futuristic aspect. Finally, we see Louise Bourgeois' Maman invading cities around the world, a bittersweet re-reading of the myth of Arachne.

For our contemporaries, the codes of mythology are therefore more relevant than ever in the world of art. The legacy of the Ancients will not be forgotten any time soon, especially with the recent return of fantastic epic in literature and cinema.

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Sculpture, Jean-Bernard, Arson

Jean-Bernard

Arson

Sculpture - 70 x 60 x 40 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 23.6 x 15.7 inch

$2,890

Print, Dancers, Giacomo Manzú

Dancers

Giacomo Manzú

Print - 64 x 49 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.2 x 19.3 x 0 inch

$2,312 $1,734

Painting, La montagne, Pierre Sojo

La montagne

Pierre Sojo

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,196

Sculpture, Phallocrate, Arson

Phallocrate

Arson

Sculpture - 80 x 60 x 60 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch

$3,294

Sculpture, En Marche, Nina Khemchyan

En Marche

Nina Khemchyan

Sculpture - 42 x 38 x 61 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 15 x 24 inch

$9,131

Photography, Le fou, Lionel Morateur

Le fou

Lionel Morateur

Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.5 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch

$1,503

Painting, Neptuno, Kateryniuk Oleg

Neptuno

Kateryniuk Oleg

Painting - 100 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,676

Painting, Myth, Artur Soletskyi

Myth

Artur Soletskyi

Painting - 150 x 150 x 2 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 0.8 inch

$9,247

Painting, Europe, Butkovsky Nikolai

Europe

Butkovsky Nikolai

Painting - 80 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

$1,445

Sculpture, Janus II, Erik Ebeling

Janus II

Erik Ebeling

Sculpture - 17.5 x 7.5 x 6 cm Sculpture - 6.9 x 3 x 2.4 inch

$210

Sculpture, Solar Totem, Astian Rey

Solar Totem

Astian Rey

Sculpture - 93 x 17 x 14 cm Sculpture - 36.6 x 6.7 x 5.5 inch

$2,500

Painting, Bethsabée, Pierre Sojo

Bethsabée

Pierre Sojo

Painting - 119 x 73 x 3 cm Painting - 46.9 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

$5,317

Painting, Godmode, Amir Kerr

Godmode

Amir Kerr

Painting - 100 x 80 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 inch

$5,779

Sculpture, Athena, Spas Kirichev

Athena

Spas Kirichev

Sculpture - 114 x 43 x 27 cm Sculpture - 44.9 x 16.9 x 10.6 inch

$28,897

Painting, Bataille, Armen Gasparian

Bataille

Armen Gasparian

Painting - 75 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

$3,121

Sculpture, Shark People, Astian Rey

Shark People

Astian Rey

Sculpture - 57 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture - 22.4 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch

$1,500

Sculpture, Forest Spirit, Astian Rey

Forest Spirit

Astian Rey

Sculpture - 97 x 61 x 21 cm Sculpture - 38.2 x 24 x 8.3 inch

$3,000

Painting, Lady snake, Mat Elbé

Lady snake

Mat Elbé

Painting - 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch

$208

Fine Art Drawings, La Gourmandise, Nina Khemchyan

La Gourmandise

Nina Khemchyan

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 100 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 27.6 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

$4,508

Sculpture, Adam and Eve, Astian Rey

Adam and Eve

Astian Rey

Sculpture - 107 x 130 x 6 cm Sculpture - 42.1 x 51.2 x 2.4 inch

$3,000

Photography, Diane, Nicolas Boutruche

Diane

Nicolas Boutruche

Photography - 150 x 110 x 3 cm Photography - 59.1 x 43.3 x 1.2 inch

$9,247

Sculpture, La tribu, Nili Pincas

La tribu

Nili Pincas

Sculpture - 43 x 43 x 40 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 16.9 x 15.7 inch

$5,664

Photography, Épreuve 20, Zakari Babel

Épreuve 20

Zakari Babel

Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.5 cm Photography - 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.2 inch

$69

Print, L'Amour, Didier Moreau

L'Amour

Didier Moreau

Print - 64.5 x 47.5 x 0.05 cm Print - 25.4 x 18.7 x 0 inch

$289

Photography, Firenze, Juan Pablo Castro

Firenze

Juan Pablo Castro

Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch

$3,000

Sculpture, Daphné, Nili Pincas

Daphné

Nili Pincas

Sculpture - 63 x 21 x 22 cm Sculpture - 24.8 x 8.3 x 8.7 inch

$4,855

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