Seduction Coat, from the Corcoran 2005 Print Portfolio: Drawn to Representation

Best known for her sculptural assemblages, Renée Stout often evokes the culture of Africa and the Americas in her work. In Seduction Coat, the artist deviates from her typical three-dimensional practice to create a mixed-media print. Inspired by Erzulie, the Haitian Vodou deity of love and beauty, the work depicts a red garment surrounded by references to seduction and desire. The bottle of perfume represents the fragrances left as offerings by devotees of Erzulie. The goddess’s role as protector of women who have been betrayed by their romantic partners is suggested by the “bleeding heart” flowers. A cowrie shell and strand of human hair are elements of a love spell.