Untitled (two women in polka dot dresses pose with paintings in Samuel H. Kress Collection at Houston Museum of Fine Arts) c. 1955

This photograph by Paul Gittings captures two women in polka-dot dresses amidst the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. The polka dots, seemingly simple, echo a broader theme of recurrence and transformation within visual culture. These dots find their ancient relatives in the stars adorning the robes of celestial deities, or the circular patterns in ancient cosmologies, symbolizing cycles of life and death. Like the serpent biting its tail, or the wheel of fortune ever turning, these repeating forms tap into our collective subconscious, reminding us of the patterns that govern our world. Notice how the women are posed in front of Renaissance paintings. Dots as pure decoration contrast with the profound narratives of classical art; yet both engage the viewer, sparking a dialogue across time. This reminds us that the language of images is never static. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, weaving a rich tapestry across the ages.