Blushing Cheeks & Sweet Fruits 

This artwork by Cassidy Rae Marietta presents us with a stark dichotomy: life intertwined with death. We see a nude figure juxtaposed with a skeleton, a potent reminder of our mortality. The snake coiled around her leg is a symbol laden with complex meanings. In ancient cultures, the snake often represented healing and rebirth, shedding its skin to emerge anew. Yet, it also embodies temptation and forbidden knowledge, a duality that mirrors the human condition. This image resonates with the Fall of Man, where the snake led to the loss of innocence. Consider its reappearance in other forms throughout history. From the serpent in the Garden of Eden to Asclepius's staff, the snake winds its way through our collective unconscious, a powerful force that engages us on a deep, subconscious level. It reflects a deep-seated awareness of the cyclical nature of life. Just as the snake sheds its skin, humanity is in perpetual transition. The symbol's non-linear progression reminds us that symbols resurface and evolve, gaining new meanings in different historical contexts.