Aesthyr 

Michael Hayes produced this image, entitled "Aesthyr," sometime in the late 20th century. The artist’s depiction of a regal woman standing before a carved stone immediately conjures up imagery of ancient goddesses. Looking closely, we see the artist make use of visual codes and cultural references to create meaning. The woman's feathery garments and jewelry, along with the Celtic knotwork on the stone behind her, create a fantasy image that draws upon neo-pagan spirituality and the historical idea of the noble savage. It also evokes the more recent cultural phenomenon of New Age spirituality, which embraces a variety of traditions. While this image might seem timeless, it speaks to our own contemporary culture. We can delve deeper into this by studying trends in contemporary art and spirituality. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.