Chinning The Snake Acrylic Painting On Canvas
A sharply dressed man stands facing a large coiled snake positioned on the opposite side of the composition. Separating them is a tall central form resembling an ermine stole, creating a visual barrier between the two protagonists.
The man’s expression is calm and faintly self-satisfied. Rather than appearing intimidated by the snake, he seems quietly pleased to be confronting it. There is a suggestion that he has emerged from a difficult situation with his confidence intact and perhaps with a clearer understanding of the character before him.
The snake dominates the right-hand side of the painting. Its body twists through a series of elaborate coils and loops, decorated with scratches and markings that emphasise its restless, tangled nature. Perched upon its head is a small pink hat, transforming the creature into a theatrical personality rather than a simple animal.
The opposing backgrounds reinforce the division. Warm reds surround the man, while the snake occupies a bright yellow field illuminated by radiating bands of light. The effect is less a battle than a confrontation between two opposing viewpoints.
What looks like a cauliflower appears in the foreground beneath the man. As with many recurring objects in Doug’s work, it introduces an element of humour and absurdity, preventing the painting from becoming overly solemn.
*Artist Doug Kemp with ‘Chinning The Snake’ acrylic painting on canvas.
Viewed as part of the Divorce Series, the painting takes on a more personal dimension. The snake may represent manipulation, conflict, accusation or emotional entanglement. The title suggests a challenge rather than an attack. To “chin the snake” is not to destroy it, but to stand one’s ground and face it directly.
Doug leaves the story unresolved. The confrontation has already taken place. The viewer arrives afterwards, at the moment when one side appears content to walk away while the other remains trapped within its own twists and turns.
Chinning The Snake – 152 x 102 cm (60 x 40 inches) acrylic painting on canvas from the late 1990s / early 2000s Divorce Series by Doug Kemp.
