Viking I 1949

Here we see Aurelie Nemours’s "Viking I," an abstract painting that seems to want to map some unknown world with its web of colorful shapes. Nemours came of age as an artist during a period of profound social and political change. There's something about the term “Viking” that conjures images of masculine power and exploration, but Nemours, as a woman, subverts these traditional narratives. Instead, she offers us a deeply personal and perhaps even subversive perspective. The stark geometry combined with vibrant color evokes both strength and vulnerability. Nemours once stated, "Art is not a representation of reality, but a reality in itself." This rings true here, as Viking I doesn’t depict a scene, but offers a new visual and emotional experience. The painting acts as a testament to the complexities of identity. It pushes us to question the established roles of gender within historical and cultural contexts, and invites us to confront our preconceptions.