Illustration 1970

This illustration by Peter Max presents us with a vivid tableau of the late 20th century, marked by psychedelic colors and symbolic gestures. The intertwined profiles suggest a union, a coming together reminiscent of ancient Roman portraiture, where profiles often symbolized noble lineage and partnership. Notice the smaller figures emerging from the mouth; an ancient symbol of birth, and the transmission of knowledge, the figures evoke the classical allegory of the birth of Venus from the sea, but there is also the feeling of the digestive process: transformation. The radiant lines behind the profile connect to the idea of enlightenment. This symbol, which transcends cultures, from the halos of early Christian art to the sunbursts of ancient Egyptian deities, represents a higher state of consciousness. Max's interpretation, however, has a modern, almost ecstatic energy, reflecting the era's optimistic yet turbulent spirit. Thus, the past informs the present, and these symbols evolve, carrying the weight of history into our subconscious.