Hathor (Cosmic Queen of The Sun)

Title | Hathor (Cosmic Queen of the Sun) Type | Original Zinc Cyanotype Inspiration | Hathor
Year | 2024

Materials | Cyanotype, handmade paper, chemically painted, heat treated zinc leaf 5.7in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Inspiration-

Inspired by the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor

Associated with rebirth, rejuvenation, inspiration and light, Hathor is the cosmic mother of the skies, sun, fertility, goddess of women, joy, celebration and love.

Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, music, and motherhood, is a multifaceted symbol of feminine strength and wisdom. She represents the ancient recognition of the myriad roles and powers that women have held throughout history.

In Hathor, we find a celebration of the divine feminine in all its glory, acknowledging that women are not confined to a single archetype but embody a rich tapestry of qualities and capabilities.

Her prominence in Egyptian mythology reflects an acknowledgment of the profound influence and contribution of women in shaping society, culture, and spirituality. Hathor's legacy stands as a reminder of the eternal reverence for the multifaceted, empowering, and nurturing aspects of the feminine, encouraging us all to embrace the diverse and boundless possibilities of womanhood.

Technique-
Hathor (Cosmic Queen Of The Sun) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture and the surface textures from planetary chemigram to represent a sun-disk.

The model's portrait was hand printed in the darkroom and then the chemigram- (made by painting onto photographic film and exposing it to light) added on top. I used typical household beauty products as resists and inks to paint onto the film to symbolise our everyday rituals and regimes. Once exposed to

light, I manipulate the surface of the film and resists whilst developing in black and white chemistry, resulting in planetary-like surfaces I used as the sun disk.

I asked my model to pose for me with her arms in the air as if holding the sun. This represents Hathor’s role as a Sun deity but also mimics the main symbol used when referring to the sun goddess- a cow with horns.

The collage is then photographed and printed as a large-scale negative onto film.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large scale negative is then contact printed onto the paper by exposure to daylight (UV rays). The print is then processed by thoroughly washing in water to remove any unexposed solution. It can then be hung to dry, developing to full density Prussian blue after 24 hours. Once the image is fixed it is hand finished with chemically painted, heat treated zinc leaf.

Dimensions

Framed: 5.7in frame diameter x 1.2in frame depth

Paper

Handmade recycled cotton rag paper:
150gsm / 100% Cotton Rag / Recycled / Acid Free / Medium Rough

Mount

We use float mounting for all of our framed cyanotypes. The artwork floats above a snow-white 8001 mount board, to showcase the paper texture and deckled edging.

Framing

Framed artwork will arrive ready to hang.
Each frame is handmade by our London based design team.

All frames come with gallery spec, 3mm thick Artglass AR70 / 3mm anti-reflective/ 79% UV protected glazing as standard.