{"product_id":"prometheus-unbinding-virginia-cohn-parkum-c-1980s","title":"Prometheus Unbinding - Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1980s","description":"\u003carticle data-turn=\"assistant\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-6\" data-turn-id=\"b4b4e1d1-7f85-478b-ad26-490320b8c976\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-id=\"ba5e0f6d-53ed-43ac-8dd3-bccf9fc79f84\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ctable height=\"1543\" style=\"width: 98.087%;\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"53\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eArtwork Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrometheus Unbinding*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"56\" data-start=\"53\"\u003e\u003cem data-end=\"88\" data-start=\"56\"\u003eVirginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1980s\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003carticle data-turn=\"assistant\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-6\" data-turn-id=\"b4b4e1d1-7f85-478b-ad26-490320b8c976\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-id=\"ba5e0f6d-53ed-43ac-8dd3-bccf9fc79f84\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-id=\"7dbb9ce6-002d-4a76-84f7-6af88d3e62f9\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"708\" data-start=\"89\"\u003eIn \u003cem data-end=\"114\" data-start=\"92\"\u003ePrometheus Unbinding\u003c\/em\u003e, Virginia Cohn Parkum reimagines a mythic subject through an austere, psychologically charged visage that emerges from darkness rather than narrative action. The composition is dominated by a frontal head that occupies the pictorial field with monumental stillness. The face is rendered in deep umbers and blacks, dissolving at its edges into the surrounding ground, while two violet, light-filled eye forms hover within the shadowed surface. These eyes do not function as descriptive anatomy; instead, they act as interior light sources, suggesting consciousness awakening within confinement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1350\" data-start=\"710\"\u003eThe figure is framed by vertical passages of warm orange-red along the edges of the canvas, which operate as both chromatic counterweight and spatial compression. These bordering fields press inward, creating the sensation of enclosure and reinforcing the theme of bondage implied by the title. A thin, luminous contour line traces portions of the face, separating it from the surrounding darkness and giving the impression that the form is emerging from constraint. The lips, rendered in a restrained red, provide the only fully articulated feature, anchoring the otherwise obscured visage and suggesting the threshold of speech or breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1950\" data-start=\"1352\"\u003eThe title invokes the Greek myth of Prometheus, the Titan punished by Zeus for giving fire to humanity. Bound to a rock, Prometheus endures perpetual torment until his eventual liberation. Parkum does not depict chains, rock, or eagle; instead, she internalizes the myth, presenting bondage as a condition of psychological and existential containment. The glowing violet eyes can be read as embers of the stolen fire — a symbolic interior flame representing knowledge, defiance, and consciousness. The surrounding darkness and compressive edges evoke the constraints imposed upon that illumination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2451\" data-start=\"1952\"\u003eMaterial handling reinforces this tension between confinement and emergence. Thin washes and layered pigments produce a velvety depth, while faint scratches and linear incisions across the surface introduce a sense of abrasion and struggle. The face appears partially erased and reconstituted, emphasizing instability and the labor of becoming visible. The faint line traversing the lower portion of the image suggests a fracture or boundary, reinforcing the sense of a form pressing toward release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2834\" data-start=\"2453\"\u003eRather than illustrating a moment of dramatic action, Parkum presents liberation as an interior process. The work situates unbinding not as physical release but as awakening — the reassertion of consciousness within a field of suppression. The figure’s stillness carries the weight of endurance, while the luminous eyes suggest a persistence of insight that cannot be extinguished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"3222\" data-start=\"2836\"\u003ePositioned within expressionist figuration and myth-inflected modernism, \u003cem data-end=\"2931\" data-start=\"2909\"\u003ePrometheus Unbinding\u003c\/em\u003e transforms classical narrative into a meditation on knowledge, suffering, and the resilience of human consciousness. Parkum replaces heroic spectacle with psychological depth, presenting the myth not as legend but as an enduring condition of the human struggle for illumination and freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n-\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(114, 58, 150);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonathan Flike\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(114, 58, 150);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003ch6 class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e*The title of this work was assigned by Visard Gallery.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCustom Shipping Notice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to size, weight, and handling requirements, this painting requires custom shipping. Shipping costs are \u003cstrong data-end=\"238\" data-start=\"222\"\u003enot included\u003c\/strong\u003e at the time of purchase and will be \u003cstrong data-end=\"322\" data-start=\"275\"\u003equoted separately after payment is received\u003c\/strong\u003e. A custom shipping invoice will be issued \u003cstrong data-end=\"393\" data-start=\"365\"\u003ewithin 3–5 business days\u003c\/strong\u003e, based on the artwork’s dimensions, destination, and quotes from our shipping partners. The artwork will \u003cstrong data-end=\"560\" data-start=\"499\"\u003enot ship until the shipping invoice has been paid in full\u003c\/strong\u003e. This process ensures appropriate packing, insurance, and safe delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStyle: Modern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubject: Figure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: 1980s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 20.00 x 16.00 in (50.80 x 40.64 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedium: Acrylic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Board\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSignature: Signed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCirculation status: One of a kind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrame Status: Unframed \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"78\" data-end=\"119\"\u003eVintage Condition Disclaimer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"119\" data-end=\"122\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePlease note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may include, but are not limited to, minor surface marks, patina, fading, or imperfections typical of older items. All items are sold\u003cstrong\u003e as-is\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is standard with vintage and pre-owned goods and cannot be returned on the basis of condition. Measurements are approximate. We do our best to describe items accurately; however, condition assessments are subjective. If you would like additional details, images, or clarification before purchasing, please contact us through the contact form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Condition Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical Frame Components (please see Historical Framing \u0026amp; Framing Components Policy)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1980s-2025\u003c\/strong\u003e: Virginia Cohn Parkum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025-2026\u003c\/strong\u003e: Cordier Auctions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2026-Present\u003c\/strong\u003e: Visard Gallery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cem\u003e*Provenance and attribution details are based on our best research and are offered in good faith but are not guaranteed. Please contact us through the contact form with any questions prior to purchase.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcademic Resources\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/fi3m8b0grc277g12czjg1\/ACj1KDAbO13SKyhypI6ysLs?rlkey=s3oqgp11pljzq8n4f1vpahu27\u0026amp;st=6nr74zc0\u0026amp;dl=0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003eVirginia Cohn Parkum Research \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/e8vnon5v9ml9f54zs9r07\/ABFaZjTGHmWxTl5a70xzebc?rlkey=tn14xm7bbvo5o0qwd3td3z5g3\u0026amp;st=yx6wbi6y\u0026amp;dl=0\" style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e","brand":"Visard Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45722413924513,"sku":"ART028","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0698\/6072\/0801\/files\/ART028_VirginiaCohnParkum_PrometheusUnbinding_Full.png?v=1771217246","url":"https:\/\/visardgallery.com\/products\/prometheus-unbinding-virginia-cohn-parkum-c-1980s","provider":"Visard Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}