Paula Rego and her revenge paintings are a useful source to explore for undertaking contextual research in relation to female rage and trauma. Rego's paintings seek to address the moral complications within humanity, with commentaries on war, abortion, brutality and more; a deeper delve into the context of the artist's work aids in my broader understanding of depicting the darker topics I will be making work about in my own practice. The painter's fascination with violence and gore are depicted through the use of symbolism borrowed from fairy tales and children's stories, creating an eerie atmosphere in her body of work by way of the juxtaposition between violence and children's innocence. This uncomfortable contrast mirrors the opposites present in Rego's narrative of feminine stereotypes and brutality. The concept of creating works of art with the purpose of revenge is fascinating to me, and a notion I can relate to on a deeply personal level.
Rego's commentary on political narratives highlights the work yet to be done in regards pro-choice laws and free will for women. I first encountered the artist's paintings when I saw them advertised at The Tate Modern in recent months and felt drawn to the melancholic nature of her images, since then I have felt drawn to her works and the sorrow and pain they unapologetically portray.
'Along with her peers Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Frank Auerbach and others, the climate for painting at this time had much improved. Angel stands as a symbol of female power and strength, qualities which Paula Rego had finally achieved in the art world.'
