Untitled 

This is an untitled oil on canvas made by Betty Parsons. Look closely and you will see it consists of shapes – orange forms with blue interiors intersected by green lines. But what are they? The orange forms remind us of vessels, or openings, containers of potent contents. We can trace this motif back to ancient Minoan pottery, where similar shapes held sacred oils and offerings. This symbol of containment has undergone a fascinating transformation. Consider the Jungian concept of the collective unconscious. Could it be that Parsons is tapping into a deep-seated human fascination with the vessel as a symbol of potential and transformation? The arrangement of these shapes evokes a sense of unease, perhaps hinting at subconscious anxieties or desires. Ultimately, this artwork presents a constellation of symbols, inviting viewers to interpret their cyclical resurgence through different eras, as well as the psychological weight and emotional power of visual symbols.