Portrait of a Woman (Blue-eyed Woman) 

Károly Lotz painted this portrait of a woman, sometime in the 19th century, using oil on canvas. Her off-the-shoulder dress, a bold fashion statement of the era, speaks of liberation, subtly challenging societal norms. This motif echoes in countless images across time, from ancient goddesses to Renaissance Venuses, each bearing a similar hint of defiance. Here, the woman’s gaze is direct, almost confrontational, imbued with psychological depth. It reminds me of the ‘schamgefühl’ or ‘shame-feeling’ in psychoanalysis, where self-awareness meets societal expectations. The off-the-shoulder dress reappears centuries later, in new forms, each time carrying echoes of earlier meanings. This act of unveiling has a long cultural lineage. It appears time and again, in various contexts, revealing the complex interplay of exposure and concealment, power and vulnerability. A powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Thus, we observe the cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and adopting new meanings across historical epochs.