The Red Witch

In the Red Witch painting, Martinez tackles the issue of the power of the eternal feminine. Throughout human history, female goddesses have been feared, respected and adored. Sometimes, all three simultaneously. This woman (goddess) in red is so intense and powerful she cannot be viewed without being hidden and restrained. She is surrounded by symbols that all relate to feminine characteristics that are both reassuring and alarming; e.g., the egg symbolizes fertility, the rug is a reference to Ulysses’ wife Penelope and the feminine quality of fidelity. The snake is a more complex symbol used in ancient times to represent pregnancy, rebirth, and of course, the serpent in the Garden of Eden which brings with it the idea of Eve’s temptation and the Fall.