Purity 

Here we have Erte's work, titled Purity, in which the artist conjures the essence of virtue through the symbolic use of white, the color of innocence and cleanliness in Western traditions. The figure is enveloped in flowing garments, which can be traced back to classical antiquity, where draped figures signified nobility and moral uprightness. This motif reappears across various epochs, like the Renaissance and the Neoclassical periods, each time adapting to contemporary ideals of beauty and status. Consider, for example, the veiling of the head. In many cultures, this act symbolizes modesty and separation from the mundane world. Erte evokes this age-old signifier, but subtly shifts its meaning to suggest both withdrawal and an alluring mystery. Such symbols remind us that the emotional and psychological impact of an image lies in its ability to tap into our shared cultural memory. It is a reminder that symbols never truly die; they merely transform and resurface, carrying echoes of the past into our present.