Painting serves as Raphaëlle Benzimra’s means of engaging with themes of glory, violence, and spiritual quest, often centering on male figures caught in moments of heightened intensity. Drawing from the visual language of medieval and Renaissance painting, she reinterprets historical compositions and narratives to reflect their enduring relevance in contemporary life. Classical texts such as Milton’s Paradise Lost and biblical stories inform her imagery, serving as sources of archetypal drama and moral complexity. Her works are characterized by meticulous detail, luminous color palettes, and a compositional approach that merges the intricacy of miniature painting with the monumentality of large-scale narratives. Each piece unfolds as a carefully constructed mosaic, uniting fragmented episodes into a single, layered scene. Boxing recurs as a central motif in her practice, functioning as both subject and metaphor. By linking the ritualized combat of the boxing ring to the symbolic and ceremonial aspects of religious tradition, Benzimra examines how violence is codified, aestheticized, and imbued with meaning across cultures and eras. ...
