Spectacle

Spectacle is a oil painting on canvas (24x36) by Josh Van Engen,, part of a figurative collection that explores the dynamic interplay between past and present—bridging art history with modern cultural symbolism. Through this work, I examine the fluid spectrum of gender and sexuality, seeking to illuminate the inherent beauty within my subjects and compositions. This piece weaves together three key visual elements: one drawn from art history and another from contemporary fashion. On the left, a striking female figure dons a blazer and top hat, playing with the juxtaposition of masculine and feminine aesthetics. On the right, a reference to Michelangelo’s Moses sculpture in San Pietro emerges—a hyper-masculine depiction of the biblical figure, steeped in fire-and-brimstone intensity. Resting above, an enamel pin features a figure peering through a spyglass, gazing back at the woman, reinforcing the act of observation and perception. Finally, in the lower left corner, a silhouetted hand delicately grasps a rope, its skeletal form evoking themes of fragility and mortality. These elements—old and new, classical and avant-garde—coalesce in both composition and meaning, creating a dialogue between biblical austerity and contemporary self-expression.