Ruth St. Denis 1964

Diane Arbus captured Ruth St. Denis in a photograph, presenting a figure draped in a dark cape with arms outstretched. The gesture of open arms has roots stretching back to antiquity, symbolizing welcome, offering, and acceptance. Consider the ancient sculptures of orant figures, their arms raised in supplication or benediction. This posture, laden with spiritual and emotional weight, transcends mere physical expression. It echoes through time in countless religious and secular artworks. In St. Denis's stance, this symbol merges with the theatrical, a dance of invitation that engages the viewer on a deeply personal level. The cape, too, is not merely fabric, but an iconographic element of concealing and revealing. Like the robes of ancient priests, it suggests hidden knowledge and transformative power, a recurring motif throughout art history, forever resurfacing, evolving, and accruing new layers of meaning.