Mother Liberty and the Seducer - The Defenseless Rose
12:00 AM |
| Michel Garnier, The Defenseless Rose, 1789 |
Mother Liberty and the Seducer
Curated by Alex McDonald
Curator’s note: After looking through the art in my collection, I found a story. It’s one of evolving feminine roles in the art world from the 17th to the 21st century. My short fiction tries to create a narrative out of what I found, enjoy.
Curator’s note: After looking through the art in my collection, I found a story. It’s one of evolving feminine roles in the art world from the 17th to the 21st century. My short fiction tries to create a narrative out of what I found, enjoy.
Unguarded, the Girl in The Defenseless Rose by Michel Garnier stands defenseless to what the Rococo Man wants. Her rose is about to be picked.
The Girl left the party early, probably to escape the Man’s gaze. He’s been eyeing her all day. And in the company of her friends and family too. Well, when the Rococo Man follows her into the dressing room, the sense of impending danger becomes a reality. He’s a wild French aristocrat who’s used to getting what he wants. He has money, power, and a perfect family to boost.
She’s scared because she knows she can’t win this fight. In fact, she hasn’t been in a fight her whole life. Women don’t fight. They are born, get married and promptly give birth. They raise children. And then they die.
She tries to run past the Rococo Man, back to her friends. He catches her, throwing her against the windowsill. A full vase and book fall. Fragments of glass scatter across the floor. The Rococo Man doesn’t care. No one will hear them. They will not choose to hear.
In her heart, she knows this too. That’s why she doesn’t call for help.
The Girl twirls towards the window. The light feels good on her face. She’ll think about this.
Meanwhile, he takes off his hat and tosses it over the baby statue’s eyes. We don’t need children seeing this.
The Rococo Man gets in between her and the window. She reaches to push his arm out of the way, but it firmly grips the rose. If she pushes, he will only snap the rose’s stem sooner. She is trapped… nowhere to go. Oblivion lies before; a Devil's laughter reaches her ears.
The Girl left the party early, probably to escape the Man’s gaze. He’s been eyeing her all day. And in the company of her friends and family too. Well, when the Rococo Man follows her into the dressing room, the sense of impending danger becomes a reality. He’s a wild French aristocrat who’s used to getting what he wants. He has money, power, and a perfect family to boost.
She’s scared because she knows she can’t win this fight. In fact, she hasn’t been in a fight her whole life. Women don’t fight. They are born, get married and promptly give birth. They raise children. And then they die.
She tries to run past the Rococo Man, back to her friends. He catches her, throwing her against the windowsill. A full vase and book fall. Fragments of glass scatter across the floor. The Rococo Man doesn’t care. No one will hear them. They will not choose to hear.
In her heart, she knows this too. That’s why she doesn’t call for help.
The Girl twirls towards the window. The light feels good on her face. She’ll think about this.
Meanwhile, he takes off his hat and tosses it over the baby statue’s eyes. We don’t need children seeing this.
The Rococo Man gets in between her and the window. She reaches to push his arm out of the way, but it firmly grips the rose. If she pushes, he will only snap the rose’s stem sooner. She is trapped… nowhere to go. Oblivion lies before; a Devil's laughter reaches her ears.
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