Seeress 

Adrian Gottlieb painted 'Seeress' with oils to revive the aesthetics of classical art, which can be seen as a response to the dominance of modernism. The figure of a woman with red hair wearing a gold armlet in the shape of a snake, invites us to consider the cultural fascination with female power and the occult. Gottlieb is part of a revival of academic figurative painting that emerged in the late 20th century. He critiques the institutions of art. His paintings align with a conservative return to traditional skills and values, against what he sees as the excesses of conceptual and abstract art. The choice of subject reflects his interest in exploring timeless themes. To fully understand the cultural significance of this painting, we would need to consider the historical context of the artist, the rise of classical realism, and the politics of representation in contemporary art. Researching the artist’s writings would offer insight into his intentions and the ways in which he sees his work challenging the contemporary art world.