Untitled (woman in riding clothes seated on circle on floor) c. 1940

This photograph of a woman in riding clothes seated on a circle was created by Paul Gittings. The woman’s riding crop, traditionally a symbol of control and mastery over animals, extends across the image, suggesting a deeper sense of authority. The circle upon which she sits is pregnant with meaning. In many cultures, the circle represents totality, the infinite, and the cyclical nature of existence. In some philosophical traditions, it symbolizes the self. The woman's attire, and the riding crop may evoke the equestrian statues of emperors, who also hold batons, suggesting her dominion over her environment. The circle also finds parallels in mandalas, ancient symbols used in various spiritual traditions to meditate on one’s place in the cosmos, representing wholeness and unity. Here, the circle and the woman’s assertive posture might evoke a sense of inner completeness and self-assuredness, a psychological space where the individual seeks to integrate diverse aspects of their being. The image invites us to consider how symbols endure, evolving yet retaining their core resonance, echoing across time and cultures in an endless dance of meaning.