#Beyoncé and #JayZ shot their #APESHIT video in the world-famous #LouvreMuseum in Paris. The museum houses priceless works of art and masterpieces such as the #MonaLisa, “The Coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I,” “The Oath of the Horatii,” “The Portrait of Marie-Guillemine Benoist,” and “The Winged Victory of Samothrace” which were featured in the video.
Each piece has a hidden personal parallel or symbolism in line with The Carters and their agendas to empower Black people.
For instance, “The Coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I” and the “Crowning of the Empress Joséphine in Notre-Dame Cathedral” depicts Napoleon crowning himself as a self-made man. He is also crowning his wife Joséphine who was Creole.
The “Portrait of Marie-Guillemine Benoist” was profound in it is one of the few art pieces including Black people in the Louvre. Instead of showing her in a subservient state, she appears strong and even desired. Beyoncé dons a wrap on her head the same way Ms. Benoist’s does.
In “BLACK EFFECT”, Beyoncé says, “I will never let you shoot the nose off my Pharaoh” which is in reference to the Great Sphinx of Giza whose nose was broken off (some say by Napoleon). And here Jay and Bey are reclaiming their time in front of the Great Sphinx of Tanis—the most prized possession in the Louvre’s Egyptian wing—with a quick turn up, dancers and all.
The Carters included images of “The Oath of the Horatii” which depicts brotherhood and “Hermes Fastening His Sandal” which seems to mirror the #TakeAKnee movement.
Via @Refinery29:
“Horatii is a well-known neoclassical depiction of brotherhood rooted in Roman legend, where three young men pledge themselves to fight and risk their lives for the good of their nation. Hermes is a bit more playful, as the statue catches the god as he slips on his sneakers — a very human thing to do, in a moment of vulnerability — and his pose strongly resembles Colin Kaepernick’s one-kneed kneel.”
At many points throughout ‘APESH*T’ Beyoncé and Jay stand in front of ‘The Winged Victory of Samothrace’ which is a statue of Nike, the goddess of Victory. In the first verse of the song, Bey talks her ish about the lavish lives she leads with her man while sitting at the foot of the statue. It’s symbolic of her dripping in victory. Also, the beautiful couture gown Bey is wearing resembles the actual statue. She flaps the dress around like they were wings as if to say she is The goddess of Victory.
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on IG
