The art of fencing & feminity: an art commentary on two artworks: Sabre grip by Jekphrasa and The Sabreuses by Ayo

I never really knew what fencing was. I remember seeing Ayo’s art on X (@phantom_blavk) and the first thought that came to my mind was “Jeez, such feminine elegance with swords"

The Sabreuses - 2026

so I went to read more about it and I'd define fencing to you as a sport of foils and sabre (thin swords) and it's not bloody and violent like boxing although accidents do happen with these thin swords but it really doesn't get bloody and then I checked out the origin because I questioned “why the heck would you be playing with swords?" I discovered it originated from France. In the 14th to 15th century in France it was a norm for warriors to practice with swords and guilds (for protection) so the intention wasn't to harm the person you were practicing with, you're simply playing pretend like (imagine we were at war, how are we going to fight with our swords). It started with heavy swords before lighter swords were introduced and at this time fencing was exclusively for men (no girls allowed or let's say girls practiced in secret because most girls or women weren't warriors) . It was considered dangerous for girls and women. However, in the 17th-19th century the world of fencing realized feminine energy could be sharp, swift, strong, tactical and paced not only soft. Perhaps because women dared to prove that themselves. The 19th century witnessed women practicing fencing publicly as a culture. Although most of their names are lost in history, some of the women who dared to do this were Ernesta Robert‑Mérignac (1858–1933) and Marie‑Rose Astié de Valsayre (1846–1915). So I'm naming the two women in this artwork by Ayo - Sabreuses. The one on the left, Ernesta and the one on the right Marie-Rose.

I can't help but notice how Ernesta’s raised hand is elegantly stretched and Marie-Rose ducks her head. The two have such a calm and defensive demeanor which makes me impressed. The thin long swords are sabres by the way. While these two ladies are focused on their sword play, I notice a faceless portrait in the middle.

It's Johannes Vermeer’s famous artwork -Girl with a Pearl Earring 1665. I really do love the mind of the artist. So Ayo paints an elegant woman “The woman with a pearl earring" and two women with swords, that's cool. I find the setting of the portrait of the elegant “pearl earring" girl, who is soft and calm and nicely dressed with a smooth skin in the background significant because that's the feminine side the world wants to see. Ayo’s painting puts it in the background and makes it faceless to reminds us that women want to do other things than just look good and women also have their own gentle fierceness that sometimes want to touch the sword. When Laura Flessel expressed how she felt when she's fencing she said “J’étais un sniper, rien ne pouvait m’échapper.” “I was a sniper; nothing could escape me.” I agree with Laura, a female also wants to be powerful and this painting boldly tells me as a girl, that I can be tough and soft and I have every right to be both.

Click to find Ayo on X

Sabre grip

The two women in " The Sabreuses" have a proper grip of the sabre but Jekphrasa paints something unconventional. The hand instead of gripping the sword by its handle, holds it at the blade as if romanticizing the sword itself. It calmly defies the gripping rule of the sabre. Here, the sabre represents our means of expression. There's no rule to how we should express ourselves or fight our demons. Some pray, some paint, some get drunk with poetry, some do sport and some let everything down and escape to heaven. The way you choose to survive in this wild wide world is a choice.

Jekphrasa on X

Olatunbosun Jesunifemi on X

art commentary by Olatunbosun Jesunifemi (Helen)

All blogposts

Red roses,red Christmas 🔗

https://jekphrasa.blogspot.com/2025/12/red-roses-red-christmas-immigrants.html

Read on Green wine's touch 🔗

https://jekphrasa.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-green-wines-touch-liquor-and-its.html

Read on Confluence of the harp and the harpist 🔗

https://jekphrasa.blogspot.com/2025/12/confluence-of-harp-and-harpist.html

Read - Old men don't die, old hearts do.

https://jekphrasa.blogspot.com/2026/01/old-men-dont-die-old-hearts-do.html