The Zodiac, Capricom 

"The Zodiac, Capricorn," was made by Erte, who was born in Russia in 1892. He designed for magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. Erte’s Capricorn places the viewer in the depths of a well, with two female figures. One appears armed, a formidable defender of the self. Erte, who was openly gay, made this work at a time when the world was rapidly changing, and yet social ideas around gender and sexuality remained rigid. In the context of the era, "The Zodiac, Capricorn," represents the power of the feminine in visual culture. The woman has agency, and the image celebrates queerness. Notice the sign on the right. Are the numbers a personal code, or do they have a broader significance? The work resonates with a sense of personal identity and the human desire to transcend earthly constraints.