The Judgement of Paris (1967), Honoré Sharrer
Honoré Sharrer’s “The Judgement of Paris” is an original large-scale surrealist oil painting that depicts and reinterprets the Judgement of Paris, an integral moment in Greek mythology. The Greek goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite mock Paris, who is attempting to decide which of the three goddesses deserves the coveted golden apple, by performing an absurd caricature of Paris’ expectations of women and “thereby comically assert their independence” (lib.rochester.edu) in doing so. Sharrer (1920-2009) was “a major art world figure in 1940’s America” (Wolfe, Subversion and Surrealism in the Art of Honoré Sharrer) whose use of vibrant color and surrealist style is clearly employed in the reimagination of this classic scene. Sharrer emphasizes the performative aspect of competition through the depiction of the three goddesses’ fluid, dance-like movement which is juxtaposed against Paris’ still, seated position. The performance of gender identity is subtly explored in this piece, evident in the goddesses’ competitive performance for Paris and in the strategic use of color which forces the audience to focus upon Athena, Aphrodite, and Heras’ movements as opposed to the coveted golden apple that lays casually in the corner of the painting. Sharrer’s depiction of Paris serves to satirize male arrogance by highlighting female independence and power.