Song of Selene (Enchantress of the Night Skies) 2024

Title | SONG OF SELENE (ENCHANTRESS OF THE NIGHT SKIES) Type | Original Gold Cyanotype
Inspiration | Selene (Titan Goddess Of The Moon)
Year | 2024

Materials | Cyanotype, handmade paper, 24-carat gold leaf 32.7inches x 45.3in x 2.2in

Inspiration-

This artwork is inspired by Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon. She is said to drive her glowing chariot powered by beautiful white horses across the sky each night, a symbol of the glorious night and the proverbial light in the darkness.

Waxing and waning and reborn with each new month, the Moon has always been the supreme symbol of cyclical change in the western world. Selene represents constant change, she personified life’s constant changes. She is honoured at the Full Moon and the days of the full and new moon were set aside for her worship. At that time she is at the height of her reproductive potential and can bring forth new life. She was perceived as being a goddess of mothers and women, who were eager to conceive, invoked her for fertility, intuition and inspiration.

As the patron of femininity, she has the power to ease childbirth, to inspire love, to mask reality, and to pierce illusion. Mythology also states that she has powers surrounding dreams and intuition, harnessing the ability to awaken intuition and to catalyse psychic visions.

Symbolism of the three female figures intertwined with the main portrait-

Selene is a goddess whose presence is felt when the moon is full. In the triple phase of womanhood, Selene is the fruitful mother at the Full Moon who stands proudly between the maiden Artemis at the Waxing Moon and the crone Hecate at the Waning Moon.

Selene is usually depicted with a pale face and a crescent-shaped crown on her head. She wears a long cloak while raising a torch to light the night sky filling the heavenly realms with her power.

Often identified with Artemis, (the Greek goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, the moon and childbirth/ midwifery). Selene and Artemis (were also associated with Hecate, (Hecate was generally represented as three-formed or triple-bodied associated with crossroads, night, light, magic, witchcraft and the moon) and all three were regarded as prominent moon and lunar goddesses but only Selene was regarded as the personification of of the Moon itself.

Technique-

Song Of Selene (Enchantress Of The Night Skies) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, photographs and glass plate negatives of the moon and clouds and illustrations of elements of flowing water and wind.

After coating the handmade paper with light-sensitive chemistry, it is left to dry in a dark room. The large scale negative is then 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 before hand finishing with 24-carat gold leaf.

Dimensions

Framed: 32.7inches x 45.3in x 2.2in

Mount

We use float mounting for all of our framed cyanotypes. The artwork floats above a snow-white, Larson- Juhl 1400 microns (8001 white core 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, Artglass AR70 / 3mm anti-reflective/ 79% UV protected glazing as standard.

If clients would like a bespoke frame, please let me know as I can have them made in alternative colours, gilding and glazing options.