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#astronomy #character #constellations #cosmos #design #gorgon #greek #grey #illustration #lab #light #medusa #mythology #perseus #snake #snakes #viper #lgal #art #tattoos
Published: 2015-11-02 21:06:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 85852; Favourites: 3127; Downloads: 412
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Excited to finally share my Perseus piece for the COSMOS show at Light Grey Art Lab! So flattered to be a part of this amazing show.
You can purchase prints (including the fiber-optic original) HERE , and you can purchase the actual Cosmos tarot/oracle deck HERE . The deck itself is gorgeous, so I wholly recommend checking it out if you have the chance.
-C
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Comments: 86
Powerful in its mood and the story it suggests.
Love everything about it.
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It's great art, though I disagree with the motivation you appeared to have in order to portray it. Whatever this was for was for the Perseus constellation, presumably, so you turned that into a vague attack on the mythological character for slaying the Gorgon? Or did they tell you to do this?
Regardless, very finely made.
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It's not a vague attack, it's a pretty direct one! Perseus was decidedly an asshole, and I decided to reclaim his constellation for the women he abused and killed. Here's the full description, if you take the time to click through the link:
Perseus - The Gorgon by Claire Hummel
Perseus has a long history of carrying out outrageous acts in order to prove himself to anyone that might challenge his abilities. After a heated discussion regarding his inability to bring a wedding present to the King Polydectes of Seriphos, Perseus exclaimed that he would bring back anything the king wanted. Seeing his chance to send Perseus to his doom, the king of Seriphos asked for the head of Medusa the Gorgon. The story goes that Perseus appeared before Medusa as she rested, ready to behead her while she was at her most vulnerable.
The card depicts Medusa sitting and awaiting her death with Perseus’s sword resting against her neck. Here, Medusa is a victim of circumstance. Caught between a hateful king and a petulant youth, Medusa becomes a casualty of the two men’s game.
In many of his myths, Perseus carries Medusa’s head with him to take advantage of her stony glare on his many enemies. Upright, This card signifies a victory but one that was won by unsavory means, or an act portrayed as more than it was meant to be. In business, this could mean a person receiving a promotion as a result of another’s lay-off or a prize won because of another person’s mistakes. It is a challenge to us to inspect our own trophies and those of others for the truth behind the prize.
Reversed, the card indicates that a person may be taking on the role of the King of Seriphos, instigating unnecessary fights between two people that wouldn’t otherwise be quarreling. "
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It depends on if her previous kills were solely self defense, or if she had been provoking being hunted, say, by stealing sheep to eat or Murdering happy woman she was jealous of. Others seem to suggest she was hunted more as a novelty freak and unique challenge. Could be both. The details conflict, depending on which versions you go with. Some definitely could support your more cynical take, but others don’t.
Do you think if a heroic version of him had humbly asked your version of her very nicely, “please, help me save my beloved Andromeda!”, that she would have listened? Travel with him, ALIVE, to kill the Kraken?
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There are 2 sets of cards? Because Tarot & Oracle are different as are Egyptian Oracle cards... I read them all along with Astrology (too long a go, couldn't do it now) & am learning Runes, just FYI. I love this drawing because it's not Perseus the hero, holding up the severed head of the evil Gorgon Medusa... She was just a woman, a trainee priestess: she was raped by a god & cursed by his goddess wife. At no point did Medusa do anything wrong. Imagine how lonely she must have been, Unable to look at anyone, let alone talk to them. For a while she was with her "sisters" (2 born gorgons) but left them because of their relish in drawing sailors to their doom with siren-song. She exiled herself so that others would be safe from her & was flat-out murdered for her trouble.
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this is an entirely different/unique deck based on the constellations, which you can read about HERE: lightgreyartlab.com/cosmos/
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Das ist soo wunderschön ! Ich mag den Zeichenstil, ihren Gesichtsausdruck und wie traurig die Szene ist obwohl sie doch die "böse" ist.
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I used to always see Medusa as just "that evil snake-headed lady" but just seeing this amazing piece and reading these comments about her true story really make me feel bad for her
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I really am happy to see this kind of depiction of Medusa. So often even now people depict her as a villian and monster, when in truth her story is that of a rape victim cursed and slain by her attacker's niece and son. So I thank you very much, even if it was not your intent. It brightened my day.
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Yeah, reading up on the un-watered-down version of Greek mythology really puts you off the delusions of grandeur usually associated with the Greek gods and makes you look at them in a less favorable light. Medusa's story especially got to me. Not the part about Poseidon; the male gods' carnal nature and penchant for fucking anything that moved wasn't really a secret. But Medusa's curse being a case of victim blaming in the worst way - damn. And from a fellow woman, no less (a goddess, but still, what was Medusa serving her for if she wasn't entitled to some protection from exactly what happened to her?).
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"What you ask is worth the telling; listen and I'll tell the tale. Her beauty was far-famed, the jealous hope of many a suitor, and of all her charms her hair was loveliest; so I was told by one who claimed to have seen her. She, it's said, was violated in Athena's shrine by the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon. Zeus's daughter turned away and gave Medusa's eyes the power to turn flesh to stone. And then for fitting punishment transformed the Gorgo's lovely hair to loathsome snakes. Athena still, to strike her foes with dread, upon her breastplate wears the snake-haired she made.’"
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Amazing job; I'm actually working on a novel about Perseus and Andromeda. It'll focus on their lives right before their destinies awaken (Perseus with Medusa and Andromeda with Cetus). I'll be writing Andromeda as North African as she was in the original texts.
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I love this so much, amazing and perfect portrayal of her
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I love the heaviness of the snake bodies. They look so thick.
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I never intended it to lead to a one M character.
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Amazing piece! Stunning aura, the fugure, the expression, the colour! One of a kind!
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Stunning! All of the details are amazing. I particularly enjoy all the weight to her, and the twisting of her snakes is really appealing as well. 
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Absolutely beautiful! Most people don't know the full mythology of Medusa - that she was a human woman raped by Poseidon in Athena's temple on the sea. Athena punished her by turning her into a Gorgon. When Perseus goes after her, it's only because he was ordered to do so. Medusa was basically cursed and stayed away from humanity, and in the end was yet another female victim of men's desires--one of the most common themes in Greek mythology.
This is the only piece I've ever seen that perfectly captures her sad story. Excellent job!
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I'm so glad to hear that! Definitely something I wanted to communicate with this piece.
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And WHY is this incredible illustration not front and center on the Cosmos tarot box? From what few other artist works I can see on the box, there is no legitimate/plausible explanation. Medusa's perfectly slumped shoulders echo my own sadness on this issue.
Claire. Just "wow" on this one. I have never bought a piece of art that I saw on DeviantArt. This will be the first. Could you please explain the "fiber optic original"? I may need this.
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I love this. Medusa gets the worst rap, so I appreciate the sympathetic portrayal (which is unfortunately rare). Also, for the first time, I recall that snakes are *heavy* creatures - to have so many springing out of one's head would probably cause incredible back pain and severe headaches. It's almost a wonder that she isn't more bowed down in this illustration.
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Beautiful, yet very stressful... Her body language is superb.
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This is a fascinating take on the Medusa legend. Her expression is moving, and the placement of the constellation is perfect. Well done!
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I love how the mood is so captivating! This illustration has an awesome sepia aesthetic too which really goes with the concept. Nice!
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Words can't express how beautiful this piece is. Everything about is perfect.
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I love how you've got the 'sword' of the constellation across her neck, like it's about to cut her head off too!
and this is the first time I've ever seen a medusa picture that made me feel sorry for her...
"You killed the Gorgon? Show me!"
(and then he does, and it's not pretty)
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It looks really good, another way of seeing Medusa, she looks human...!
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That's one of the most pretty things I saw in weeks !
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Love it!!! Poor Medusa, I always felt for her and liked her, even if I'm afraid of snakes!
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Such an interesting take on the story, and so well executed!
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As a fellow deviant already said, I really like the way you depicted Perseus; giving us a glimpse of what he did and the constellation, but not the person himself. Also have to say I feel sorry for Medusa, she looks....tired
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