Snow White by Urs Jaermann: an exploration of symbolism and modern myth

Snow White presents a thought-provoking artistic vision where fairytale narrative merges seamlessly with contemporary iconography. The artwork examines the renowned fable through a diptych, each painting measuring 140 × 120 cm, displaying a compelling interplay between innocence and danger.

The left panel introduces viewers to an imposing, sleekly stylized bottle of perfume prominently labeled “Poison.” The bottle’s dark, glossy surface and luminous red core evoke both allure and menace, suggesting the irresistible temptation that lies at the heart of the Snow White story. Snow-like dots scatter across the scene, connecting the background to the fairytale’s wintry atmosphere and hinting at the fateful encounter. In Jaermann’s vision, the luxury fragrance bottle becomes a modern emblem for the lethal apple, cleverly commenting on the seductive risks in consumer culture and vanity.

In the right panel, Urs Jaermann vividly reimagines Snow White herself. She lies pale and motionless, clad in a crisp white blouse, her red lips strikingly vivid against her porcelain complexion. Beside her, a hand clasps a red apple bearing a single bite, symbolizing the fairytale’s pivotal moment of betrayal and slumber. The black hair cascading across the canvas, coupled with delicately painted shadows, intensifies the sense of fragile beauty and tragedy. The two panels together form a dialogue, where the threat and its consequence—the poison and the fallen Snow White—are given equal weight in the narrative. Through meticulous detail and compositional balance, Jaermann draws viewers into the tale’s emotional core.

The size of each painting, 140 × 120 cm, gives the works a commanding presence. The life-scale dimensions invite viewers to step into the enigmatic tension between desire and danger. Displayed side by side, the diptych emphasizes duality: life and death, innocence and experience, fantasy and harsh reality. Jaermann’s interpretation is not a mere retelling, but a contemporary meditation on lasting myth—the double-edged power of beauty, the peril of seduction, and the vulnerability of innocence.

Both paintings are offered as a single unit, underscoring the intent to experience the narrative as a unified visual statement rather than segmented pieces. The price encompasses the story in its entirety, encouraging collectors and audiences alike to engage with the full arc of Snow White’s transformation as conceived by the artist. Jaermann merges classical iconography from fairy tales with symbols of modern luxury, sparking questions about the persistence and evolution of legendary narratives in today’s visual culture.