Untitled (two women in polka dot dresses pose inside Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in front of statue) c. 1955

This photograph by Paul Gittings captures two women in polka-dot dresses at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. Polka dots, like circles, have long held symbolic meaning. As an ancient symbol of wholeness and unity, the circle has been associated with the cosmos and cyclical time. In this image, the polka dots pattern the women's dresses, creating a visual rhythm that connects them to each other and to the abstract sculptures nearby. We can trace the circle back through history—from ancient sun discs to mandalas, their presence suggests a collective yearning for harmony. Yet, the polka dot is also playful. As the dots dance across the fabric, they evoke a sense of modernity and lightness, a departure from more rigid, traditional patterns. The dots create a dynamic tension between order and chaos, echoing the complex interplay of tradition and modernity in the museum setting. They remind us of the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.