Red Grooms and Terry Barrell, "The Burning Building" 1959

This photograph by John Cohen captures Red Grooms and Terry Barrell in "The Burning Building". Notice the jagged edges that border the top of the scene. These recall the "lightning flashes" or "zigzag" motifs found in ancient art. Often, these patterns symbolize moments of divine intervention or chaos. Similarly, fire's disruptive force can be seen as a catalyst for change and renewal, a concept present in mythology across cultures. Consider the early Renaissance depictions of the "Expulsion from Paradise," where similar jagged patterns conveyed the divine wrath. In contrast, the stylized flames of hell in medieval art are meant to provoke fear. Here, the artist uses a theatrical backdrop, creating a sense of drama and engaging the viewer in the psychological tension of the scene. The collective memory of destruction and renewal is deeply embedded in our consciousness, and this image, laden with symbolic elements, taps into our subconscious understanding of these universal themes.