“The Birth of Venus” is an artwork created by Mark Ryden in 1998. The medium employed is oil on canvas, and this piece belongs to the Lowbrow Art and Surrealism movements. It is a figurative artwork and is part of the series “The Meat Show.”
The artwork portrays a surreal, fantastical scene imbued with symbolic imagery. Dominating the composition is a large, stylized figure whose face appears to be a distorted, anthropomorphic representation of a historically significant character. The figure is shown lying on a lush, expansive landscape while being attended to by a group of individuals discernibly dressed in formal attire. One figure is performing an intricate task involving the large figure’s ear, using tools that suggest some sort of medical or technical intervention.
Floating in the sky is a cherubic baby, tethered by a cord connecting to the main figure, symbolizing a form of ethereal guidance or creation. Additionally, a divine-like figure releases the baby, representing a celestial element. A nurse holding a slice of meat amplifies the surreal and provocative nature of the scene, aligning with the motifs typical of Ryden’s “The Meat Show” series. Flowers and natural elements in the backdrop add to the dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere of the piece. The phrase “Natus Veneris” inscribed at the bottom center further tilts the narrative towards an esoteric or allegorical meaning.