'The Creation of Adam' painting by Michelangelo inspires and connects to my current practice, with it being one of the most replicated biblical paintings in history. Similarly, 'The Birth of Venus' by Botticelli is also amongst the most famous paintings in the world. I noticed an important link with these paintings, to my prior research into Erving Goffman's theory on 'ritualistic touching' - with regard to women in magazine adverts.
In 'The Creation of Adam', God appears to be floating within a cloud of drapery among many other human figures. His outstretched hand joins the other as a symbolic connection and representation of God to man and humanity. These hands, although male, are painted holding themselves in a poised manner, seemingly like a delicate outreach to one another. To me, I think the level of hierarchy that God seems to be giving over - with Adam yet to touch him - is much like the gentle caress that we so often see by female models in magazines. It is almost like a held power over their audience, in an attempt to sell the product or lifestyle of such thing.
Displaying such a close similarity in its positioning of hands is 'The Birth of Venus', which captures a part-exposed, yet innocent Venus as she arrives from her 'birth', emerging from the sea. In this piece, Botticelli cleverly locates Venus in the centre of the painting, her nude body becoming the focal point. Venus caresses her hands over the exposed areas of her body, seemingly in an attempt to allow herself to remain pure, perfect, and unseen.
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