Lago Maggiore, Ascona, Switzerland 1930

László Moholy-Nagy captured this photograph, titled "Lago Maggiore, Ascona, Switzerland," using gelatin silver print. The legs and feet, front and center, are symbols deeply rooted in our collective psyche. Feet, the connection to the earth, have been revered and reviled across cultures. Consider the ancient practice of foot-binding in China, a symbol of status but also of restriction. Or the act of washing feet, a gesture of humility and service found in religious rituals worldwide. Here, the bare feet suggest vulnerability, an openness to experience. The water stains on the wooden pier add another layer. Water, the source of life, also mirrors our emotions, our subconscious depths. Think of Ophelia, Shakespeare’s tragic figure, drifting in the water, a powerful image of madness and despair. These symbols in Moholy-Nagy's photograph evoke a sense of anticipation, a moment suspended between land and water, reality and the realm of dreams. And like all powerful symbols, they continue to resonate, shifting and evolving with each new gaze.