New York 1987

Rosalind Solomon captured this photograph in New York, presenting us with a portrait rich in subtle symbolism. The man, poised at his piano, is adorned with a pendant, a small, circular emblem that carries echoes of ancient solar deities. Consider the sun—a recurring motif throughout history, from the Egyptian god Ra to Apollo in Greek mythology—each representing life, energy, and enlightenment. This symbol’s journey transcends millennia, reappearing in Renaissance art as a halo, signifying divine grace, and later in secular contexts, embodying reason and progress during the Enlightenment. The emotional weight of such symbols cannot be overstated. Deep within our collective consciousness lies a resonance, a psychological tether connecting us to ancestral beliefs. The image’s power lies in its ability to evoke these submerged memories, stirring profound, often unacknowledged emotions. It illustrates the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly reinvented, yet eternally tethered to their primal origins.