LEDA AND THE SWAN, 2021.

Oil on canvas

In LEDA AND THE SWAN, the classical myth is reimagined not as a literal retelling but as a symbolic and introspective exploration. Inspired by the Greek legend in which Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces or violates Leda, this painting transcends traditional depictions by approaching the narrative through a surreal and psychological lens.

The composition reveals a striking fusion between two entities: the graceful form of a swan and the serene, sculptural profile of a green-toned female face, reminiscent of Greco-Roman statuary. The boundary between them—soft, almost membrane-like—suggests not a separation but a merging, evoking themes of metamorphosis and the delicate tension between the human and the animal, the rational and the instinctual.

Set against a bold, visceral red background, the contrast with the soft greens of the woman’s face and the bird’s plumage is both visually and symbolically potent. Red speaks of passion, violence, desire, and sacrifice, while green suggests life, fertility, and a certain stillness—almost as if the female figure is suspended in a moment outside of time.

Unlike Renaissance interpretations that often emphasized eroticism, this version opts for a more internalized, conceptual approach. The union between Leda and the swan is not physical but psychological; it is not an event, but an imprint. The divine encounter does not play out on the surface of the canvas but is absorbed into the identity of the subject—forever altered, eternally divided.

LEDA AND THE SWAN, 2021 invites critical reflection on the myth’s relevance in today’s world. What does the merging of the divine and the mortal mean in a contemporary context? Where do we draw the boundaries between desire, power, and transformation? This painting offers no definitive answers but proposes a visual reinterpretation of the myth through a contemporary, introspective sensibility—one shaped by ambiguity, memory, and metamorphosis.