Soldier Jane

by Jeroen Quirijns

The title refers to a song by Beck from 2006, ‘ "Soldier Jane" van het album "The Information" ’ – a lovely song and a wonderful album; I see it as a coincidence. Here we see a woman in uniform; around her face is a golden halo, a reference to iconography, and the way she looks away at an angle corresponds to the way in which Mary Magdalene, in particular, was portrayed during the Golden Age.
This uniform conveys a great deal of information: rank insignia on the arm and shoulders, and baton ribbons – small ribbons representing honours, achievements and contributions. Medals for dedication and courage.
We can, as it were, read a life story from that uniform; now, lying on the table before her are symbols of "een ander leven" – perhaps another successful life – but her choice is clear; perhaps this painting is a reflection?
The essence of the story is devotion; it is not about the military aspect but the extent to which someone makes a life choice; the uniform is a metaphor. This is a truly fascinating subject, presented in a theatrical scene.
In terms of colour and subject matter, theatre curtains, the setting sun, and archaeological artefacts and columns are recurring themes in my work; if you look more closely at the works, you’ll probably spot a pattern. This painting dates from 2007.
I hope you enjoy viewing them!