Washington, D.C. #2 1975

This photograph by Anthony Hernandez shows a man in a suit, set against the backdrop of a Washington, D.C. street. At first glance, it's a simple portrait, yet the symbols embedded within speak volumes. The man's attire is a powerful symbol, hinting at authority and status. The business suit has echoes from the past, from ancient senatorial robes to more recent iconic figures of power. This sartorial choice connects him to a long lineage of leaders and decision-makers. Even the ice cream cone in the shop window behind him can be seen as a vestige of classical cornucopia, the horn of plenty. Consider the modern business suit with its vestigial buttons on the cuffs: echoes of a time when they served a real function. Like memories, these symbols remain, shifting in meaning, yet still resonating with the weight of their origins. The collective memory unconsciously ascribes power to these motifs, engaging viewers on a visceral level. These symbols are not fixed; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, perpetually looping through history.