The Zodiac, Sagittarius 

Erte's 'The Zodiac, Sagittarius' presents us with the archer, a centaur against a backdrop filled with celestial and terrestrial motifs. The figure is composed of stars, a symbolic echo of the night sky, embodying the astrological sign's connection to the cosmos. The archer is also adorned with coins hanging above, a stark contrast to the divine symbolism of the stars. This contrast mirrors the duality of the centaur—a creature of myth, half-man, half-animal, symbolizing the struggle between intellect and instinct. We can see this struggle echoed in other artworks throughout history, where the human form merges with animalistic traits to represent humanity's internal conflicts. Consider, for example, the Minotaur or the Sphinx, these symbols of primitive fears and desires tap into our collective unconscious, resurfacing in various guises across cultures, thus revealing the complex and evolving nature of human self-perception.