The Enigmatic Allure of Joan Semmel’s Disturbingly Beautiful Paintings

Joan Semmel’s art has long challenged perceptions, creating powerful dialogues on the representation and understanding of women’s bodies. Her work engages viewers by unsettling conventional beauty standards and inviting a deeper contemplation of the human form beyond mere eroticism.

At the Jewish Museum’s exhibition, “Joan Semmel: In the Flesh,” a collection of 16 paintings showcases the artist’s career spanning over five decades. Semmel’s art often features contorted female bodies portrayed in a mix of realistic, surreal, or abstract styles. This exhibition defies traditional depictions of idealized bodies and instead presents them in ways that may seem disconcerting yet compelling.

Key pieces such as “Horizon With Hands” (1976) and “Purple Diagonal” (1980) exemplify Semmel’s signature approach, which involves a deliberate blurring of body and landscape, emphasizing a disorienting yet intimate perspective. These paintings encourage viewers to reconsider their perceptions of their own bodies, intertwining the familiar with the unfamiliar.

Her latest work, “Parade” (2023), explores themes of aging through paint techniques that echo physical transformation, embodying a duality of drooping and uprightness. Semmel’s canvases do not objectify; instead, they demand that women’s bodies be seen as fascinating and dynamic entities worthy of exploration beyond their physical allure.

Furthermore, the exhibition forges connections with other works, such as Arnold Newman’s photograph of Louise Nevelson, creating a dialogue on how womanhood and its artistic portrayal can be depicted in innovative, puzzling ways. This aligns with Semmel’s belief that the painting transcends mere self-portraiture, fostering an interaction between art, artist, and audience.

“Joan Semmel: In the Flesh” remains on display at the Jewish Museum in Manhattan until May 31, 2026, curated by Rebecca Shaykin and Liz Munsell. It showcases the artist’s enduring impact on how we perceive and represent the enigmatic tapestry of women’s bodies.