Cathrine Raben Davidsen is one of Denmark’s most recognised contemporary artists, with work based on the classic history of art and literature. Her works of art have clear references to Renaissance masterpieces and are clearly inspired by literary classics such as Odysseus and Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Artistic style and method
Mythological stories and paintings form the central points for many of Cathrine Raben Davidsen’s artworks, which are often about transformation. She has, for example, interpreted the Sandro Botticelli Renaissance painting, Primavera..
However, she also goes far beyond the inspiration of the Renaissance and often mixes contemporary attire and modern hairstyles into the classic characters.
Gender and femininity
Cathrine Raben Davidsen draws people, animals and symbols from the mythology of the past, but often pulls them out of the narrative context and places them lonely and expressive in her art. They become independent figures with their own expression. The motifs are most often women in different forms and during transformation. The transformation is not necessarily easy and pleasant, but may seem blurred, problematic and difficult. The eyes are pretty or suffering. The women in Cathrine Raben Davidsen's paintings are often both beautiful and empty, present and distant, clear and vague, historical and modern.
Cathrine Raben Davidsen's artistic education
Cathrine Raben Davidsen graduated in 2003 from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and has also studied at the art academy Istituto Lorenzo de Medici in Florence and De Vrije Academie in Amsterdam.
Collaboration with other artists and group exhibitions
Cathrine Raben Davidsen has participated in many group exhibitions with other artists including Jonas Pihl, Trine Søndergaard, Christian Lemmerz, Erik A. Frandsen, Peter Brandes and Maja Lisa Engelhardt.
Cathrine Raben Davidsen has also created scenography for the Royal Danish Ballets production of Virtuosi Steps by August Bournonville.
Colours, paintings and materials
Cathrine Raben Davidsen is an artist who often paints in black and white, or black and white with simple colours added. She blends painting with oil, ink, drawing, spray, collage, pencil, graphics, textile and chalk and also makes ceramics.