ABOUT MUSE
Artist: Christiane Vleugels
Land of Origin: Belgium
With this allegoric Masterpiece, Christiane Vleugels pays homage to her roots and heritage. The idea blossomed during a conversation with IBEX founder Albrecht von Stetten, who pointed out how different art was from one country to another and how artists are influenced by their heritage and culture.
Antwerp and its rich history stole Christiane’s heart long time ago and those influences are clearly visible in “Muse”. But there is more to this painting. Muse also pays tribute to all women around the world, . On the background we see an impression of the famous sign post of the Parisian nightclub Folies Berg re, which adds a hint of cabaret. The roses highlight the adoration and praise a Muse should get. The delicate red colour brings out the feminine touch, which stands in contrast with the muscular features of our male figures.
As a personal touch and ode to her model Emilie, she added a singular yellow rose especially for her. Since ‘Muse’, Christiane used Emilie in several other artworks so it is safe to say that she truly became a Muse in the more recent years of Christiane’s career, rising up like a beacon in darkness.