This is “Vleeshoop”, by Joke De Pever. We see four people, totally at ease with each other. They don’t have to conform to societal ideals, when they’re together: they are who they are, and that’s why they love each other. The intens love relationship between family and friends is what Joke wanted to get across here.

She wants to picture female bodies that are not conventionally sexy, but aren’t repulsive either. Joke thinks their bodies can also just be presented as they are: bodies, without any obligation to please.

Something that is very typical of joke, is that she uses a vast array of materials and textures: look how the face of the girl at the top is painted on another canvas, and then sewed on this painting. Or the girl underneath her, whose face is painted on a box of biscuits. Or, how the clouds are coarse and grotesque, but the girls’ bodies smooth and harmonic.

By the way, just like in the works of other artists, this work of art also features a self portrait of the painter: it’s the girl with the sun glasses. The three other women are two good friends and her sister.