This is from the “Masterpiece from the Kermitage Collection” (based on the original same titled Muppet calendar and book!). As with my other appropriations from these 80’s appropriations from the Muppets taking on their own versions of famous masterpieces, I replaced their real-life prop backgrounds with the original painting masterpiece background—in this case the sublime Botticelli’s Birth of Venus from 1484-6! 

It would be nearly impossible to identically replicate that intensely wondrous work, but I tried my best micro-managing to the micromanaged while keeping in pace with the visionary master, and trying my best to render the Muppet version elements to supreme style… The original was an ode to fertility as much as to Venus’ awesome beauty, so I tried (if this isn’t too perverse as they are Muppets!) make this as “sexy” as possible, revealing a glimpse of Kermit’s privates (?!) and Miss Piggy’s voluptuous hair which takes on a life of its own, the symbolic flowers and cattails also doing their thing as they do in Botticelli’s canny mythic work. 

I realize old men Statler & Waldorf replacing the wind god Zephyrus and his mate could be a little creepy—but honestly this was in the Muppet appropriation and they are kind of queer—they hang out together every night on the Muppet balcony and they are like old cranky queens, here in their appreciation of their Diva Queen, her own kind of glamorous full figured voluptuous beauty—and strong female protagonist that would karate chop you if you got out of line! 

I’m hoping this is a living, empathetic and compassionate image for representation of the genders, also a queer LGBTQIA+ recoding!