Flora (1913) by Louise Abbéma Lavender_Menace leather culture and power

leather culture and power

sensual yet restrained

This is a striking portrait of masculine physicality

Lovers I (The Hanky Code Edition) captures the kind of love that doesn’t follow rules

The other hand holds his ankle preventing him from moving on the stool

Flora (1913) by Louise Abbéma Lavender_Menace leather culture and powerLouise Abbmas Flora (1913) turns the Roman goddess of flowers into a Belle poque daydream: draped in lavender, surrounded by sunflowers, butterflies and soft, theatrical bloom. Christies records the work as oil on canvas, signed and dated by Abbma. No known sitter or lover is attached; the charge sits with the artist herself. Abbma lived openly as a lesbian, built a public career on her own terms, and moved through the world with delicious confidence.