Mea Culpa

Digitally created original photo.

“Mea Culpa”, a digitally manipulated portrait of a vintage female mannequin, was conceived in a moment of reflection on the fragility of identity and the passage of time. Gazing downward with a weathered, blue-painted face, she evokes a haunting, almost tragic, sense of deterioration. The peeling blue paint—symbolic of faded ideals or constructed beauty—cracks to reveal weathered wood underneath, a poignant metaphor for the enduring yet vulnerable human condition, particularly concerning women.

The background of dark, chaotic graffiti tags, faint brickwork, and faint cursive writing draws from urban decay, representing the oppressive environment in which the subject exists, while the writing hints at forgotten or silenced voices. 

Drawing from existentialist philosophy, the figure represents the decay of constructed identities, much like Simone de Beauvoir’s examination of womanhood as a "second sex" shaped by external forces. The weathered wood on the right side of the face speaks to the natural, unpolished reality beneath the artificial layers imposed on women by society, connecting it to feminist critiques of identity and objectification.

This piece, in its digital manipulation, merges contemporary and classical artistic practices. It reflects the tensions between the artificial and natural, beauty and decay, and the static versus the chaotic. In doing so, it serves as a potent reminder of how the manipulation of female images—whether through painting, history, or society—leaves visible and invisible marks. Through its layers of texture and meaning, this work exemplifies how modern digital art can be a medium of deep social commentary, resonating with historical and philosophical traditions while offering a fresh, critical lens on contemporary issues.

This work is currently on display and for sale ($250) at Trackside Studios. The print is 16" x 20" and printed on canvas. If you are interested in this particular piece, please contact Trackside Studios or me.

You may purchase this print via the "Buy" button above. This will take you to my Fine Art America page where you will be able to purchase fine art prints as well as other items with this image printed on it.