Study for "Lemon" c. 1975

Here we see Leo Dee's enigmatic "Study for Lemon", a work of art presenting a solitary lemon against a vibrant blue backdrop. The lemon, seemingly simple, is a symbol laden with meanings that traverse time. Its golden hue has, since antiquity, been associated with sunlight, vitality, and even immortality in certain cultures. The vibrant blue, too, carries its own weight, often linked to the heavens, truth, and constancy. The convergence of these two colors creates a visual tension. Consider the "golden apples" of Greek mythology, symbols of immortality. The lemon echoes these, yet its sourness hints at the complexities of life. We find the echo of this tension in Renaissance still lifes. The "memento mori," where symbols of life's fleeting nature juxtapose with vibrant objects, reminding us of the ephemeral nature of existence. The image engages us on a deeply subconscious level, drawing us into the cyclical progression of symbols, evolving and resurfacing through history.