Cut-a-Way 1976

This is “Cut-a-Way” by Allen Jones, which presents a fragmented and reconstructed view of the female form, challenging traditional notions of representation. Here, the garter belt, traditionally a symbol of restraint and fetishism, is deconstructed. Rather than holding up stockings, it hangs loosely, its meaning disrupted. We can recall similar motifs of constraint and liberation throughout art history, such as the broken chains in depictions of the freeing of Andromeda or other mythological figures. The cutaway, with its exposure of the internal anatomy, evokes images of medical illustrations, a nod to scientific dissection. This adds another layer of interpretation, contrasting the objectified external form with the internal, biological reality. This image, with its bold colours and fragmented forms, speaks to the power of symbols to evoke complex psychological responses. The artist exposes the interplay of desire, power, and the human form.