Angie 1980

Sheigla Hartman’s drawing, simply titled "Angie," presents us with a cascade of hair, a veritable Medusa's head of swirling lines. Hair, across cultures, is potent: a symbol of strength, sexuality, and raw, untamed energy. Think of Botticelli’s Venus, her flowing locks a testament to her beauty and vitality, or the tragic figure of Mary Magdalene, often depicted with unrestrained hair, expressing grief or repentance. Here, the abundance of hair, rendered with such dynamic lines, evokes a similar intensity, a primal force barely contained within the frame. Hair can both attract and repel, as it embodies the dualities of allure and danger, control and abandon. Consider the legend of Samson, whose strength resided in his hair; when shorn, he was rendered powerless. Hartman’s "Angie" stirs deep within us echoes of these age-old associations, reminding us of the enduring power of symbols to tap into our collective memory and stir our souls. The cyclical journey of the image continues, transforming yet ever-present.