The Reclamation of Lot's Wife

It’s been awhile since I’ve painted a piece that told a story. Never have I painted a piece to rewrite an old story.

Close up shot. Acrylic on canvas board. 9x12”

I began this painting during #pride. With the political climate right now, I desperately wanted to say something. Stand up for the downtrodden, the oppressed, and take a stand against the injustice that is so firmly rooted in the world.

Sodam and Gomorrah, there is lots to unpack here. A story, in my opinion, which is greatly problematic and feeds into the patriarchy and the justification of exponential punishment for crimes to Lot’s family and others. Some interpret as carnal rage and suggest that it was about violence within the city that made it unclean. The consensus seems to be because of homosexual acts.

As Lot’s family is leaving the burning city, Lot’s wife turns and is reduced to a Pillar of Salt. The amount of punishment that is put upon Lot’s wife is awful. A woman who was fleeing her home, in a moment, was human. To me, this punishment does not fit the crime. I painted her, coming to life. Becoming human again and giving her a second chance because, we all look back sometimes. We all fall and make mistakes and hope to be forgiven, in the end. Let her be part of the feminist movement. Allow her to come back to life and live to make another mistake and hold herself accountable but, let her decide. Let Lot’s wife not be reduced to just a pillar of salt.