Loves Captive 

In Erte’s ‘Loves Captive’, the central figure stands draped in a blue shawl, adorned with an orange flower. This flower echoes ancient solar symbols, reappearing across cultures. Consider the rosette found in ancient Mesopotamian art, representing divine power. The flower may represent beauty, transformation, and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Yet in this image, the flower is at the very centre of the woman's chest, as if protecting her heart. The guardian angel stands behind her; a symbol seen throughout history, from ancient protective deities to Christian iconography. Their ever-watchful presence speaks to an unconscious desire for protection, a psychological need to safeguard oneself from emotional harm. The flower motif and angel merge, a fusion of nature and spirit, illustrating the complex human psyche. The flower resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, a testament to our collective memory and subconscious desires, reflecting the universal quest for love.