Untitled (man and woman in formal attire seen close-up, she with flowers in hair, he with handkerchief in pocket) after 1940

This photographic print by Paul Gittings captures a man and woman in formal attire. The woman’s flowers are reminiscent of those worn at weddings to symbolize fertility, new beginnings, and the blossoming of love, echoing ancient traditions from classical antiquity. The flowers contrast with the handkerchief peeking from the man’s pocket, a symbol seen in Renaissance portraiture representing status and affluence. It reminds me of the Vanitas paintings in the Baroque period, where pristine white linen was included to symbolize wealth and cleanliness, while decay acted as a reminder of mortality. The persistence of these motifs across time and media illustrates the complex dance between continuity and change in our collective consciousness. They engage us on a deeply subconscious level, evoking a potent blend of aspirations, fears, and memories. Their presence speaks to the enduring power of symbols to transcend epochs, adapting to the zeitgeist while retaining threads of their primordial essence.