Title of Artwork: “Snow White Swallows the Poisoned Apple”

Artwork by Paula Rego

Year Created 1995

Summary of Snow White Swallows the Poisoned Apple

Snow White is reimagined in Paula Rego’s painting, Swallows the Poison Apple, in order to expose the shaky value of youth.

Wearing traditional Disney attire, this Snow White appears to be middle-aged. Immediately after eating the apple, she appears to be lying on the ground, surrounded by furniture that has been toppled, suggesting a violent death.

Using her skirts as a metaphor for her sexuality, she clings to something that seems to be slipping away. Spring blossoms cover her body, which is set against a blood-red and black backdrop.

Ageing as a physical and psychological violation, Rego depicts the tension between socially enforced myths about female worth and reality.

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