Untitled 2009 - 2011

This photograph by John Gossage presents us with a seemingly simple scene, yet it is laden with symbolic weight. The house, framed by lush foliage, recalls the archetype of domesticity. It reminds me of how the home has been a symbol of security and refuge in art for centuries. Here, however, the dense leaves act as a filter. They distort our view and cast a shadow over the idyllic image. Consider how, in classical mythology, the forest often represents the wild, untamed aspects of the human psyche. The house then, a representation of order and control, is viewed through a lens of primal instinct. This duality evokes a psychological tension, a universal conflict between our conscious desires for safety and our subconscious attraction to the unknown. It is this interplay that engages us on a deeper level, stirring emotions and memories buried within. In this way, Gossage shows the cyclical nature of symbols, their continuous evolution and capacity to reflect our deepest selves.