Lynn Barnes, Surrealist Painter and Author

Sexual and Psychological Aspects of the Stories

There will be male nudity on this page

Narcissus and Echo Narcissus and Echo, 18"x 24", oil A modem portrayal of the Greek myth. They were once a couple, but Narcissus was warned not to look at his reflection; he was half man and half god, very beautiful and he would fall in love with himself. The Greek Narcissus looked into a pool of water in the forest. Modem Narcissus looks into a mirror in a waterfall. He sees himself as he isn't and never really was, more muscular and handsome. The image is also younger. Echo sits in despair, her pleas ignored, represented by her image repeating and fading into the bushes. Her mouth transforms into narcissus flowers, which two male peacocks eat. The room's blue walls disappear into a forest setting. The picture on the wall is of the days before he fell in love with himself. The mirror is decorated with grapes, wood on the outside and life-like nearer inside the imaginary reflection.

The Afternoon of the Faun

Afternoon of the Faun, 18"x 28", oil

This painting was inspired by Nureyev's interpretation of the Nijinsky Ballet. The Faun has the scarf on my skylight. The face and figure of the young woman is batiked on the scarf. My imaginary house is in the hill that he climbs, like a cavern in the ground. He is unaware of the skylight. I don't think it would make any difference.

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty, 29"x 58", oil

The outside panels of the triptych shows the castle in which Sleeping Beauty lies. Briars of roses have grown thick and block the entrance of the castle. Sleeping Beauty had come across an old woman with a spindle in a locked room. She touched the hemp of the spindle and got a sliver of it in her finger, it bled and she went to sleep for a very long time. One psychological interpretation of the "female" version of the fairy tale explains that the old woman represents female wisdom, maturity, and responsibility. The young woman, an adolescent, is just becoming aware of her changing role, and the pricked finger and blood is symbolic of menstruation. Her initial reaction to it is denial of which the sleeping is symbolic. When her "Prince"comes along and wakes her up, he symbolizes her awareness and acceptance of her responsibilities as a woman and as a wife to the man.

In my version, the young man comes in contact with the reality in the symbol of woman's knowledge and responsibilities, and with such an understanding (and an understanding he was not expecting) he too falls asleep, a possible incubation period, or even ultimately his denial of his potential understanding and knowledge of the female; so he sleeps.

He has been discovered by a woman warrior. She has gone through the thorns and penetrated the castle to discover him. What should she do with him? Wake him up? Have sex with him and just let him sleep (like "The Sun, Moon, and Talia" version of the fairy tale), then leave? Keep looking for someone else? A tough situation. Man and woman face each other from the opposite sides of the panels. They are drawn to each other, but there is a distance. In the center panel The Fool has grown old and lifts the curtain to reveal the situation before he goes on his way.