The Wheel of Fortune 1900

John La Farge created this watercolor, "The Wheel of Fortune," capturing a winged figure riding a turning wheel. This is Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate, whose wheel symbolizes life's unpredictable nature. The wheel motif is ancient, appearing in various cultures. In early Mesopotamian imagery, the wheel was linked to sun gods and cosmic order. Here, Fortuna's wheel echoes these earlier concepts, but with a twist. She is not necessarily benevolent; the wheel turns without regard for those it elevates or crushes, reflecting a chaotic, indifferent universe. Consider, too, the angel wings, a symbol adopted from early Christian art. They once signified divine messengers, yet here, they add to Fortuna's ambiguous nature. Is she guiding the wheel or merely a passenger? This echoes our own anxieties about control versus fate. The image resonates because it touches upon humanity’s deep-seated need to understand and influence the forces that shape our lives, a cycle of hope and despair that continues to turn through time.