Rope 2018

James Jean painted “Rope” using mixed media in the 21st century, featuring women carrying surreal burdens. These burdens, fruit-like yet otherworldly, rest heavily on their shoulders, an image that speaks to the burdens we carry, both seen and unseen. This motif of bearing weight is an ancient one. Consider Atlas, from Greek mythology, condemned to carry the heavens on his shoulders, a symbol of enduring strength and unending toil. Jean's figures, however, seem to be in a state of listless resignation, their flowing hair evoking a sense of sorrow. Notice also the recurring rope-like forms in this piece, which seem to bind the women. These evoke the threads of fate, a concept seen in classical art. They are reminiscent of the Fates, goddesses who controlled the thread of life. The ropes might represent destiny, a force that guides and restricts us, highlighting a sense of predestination. These symbols of burden and destiny engage our subconscious on a deeply personal level. It speaks to the enduring human condition, a cyclical narrative of fate and emotional weight.