Number 8 

This is "Number 8," a print by Erté, whose graphic style recalls the aesthetic of art deco. Here, we see two stylized figures intertwining to form the shape of the number eight, adorned with celestial motifs. Note how one figure holds a golden sun or earth above, while the other cradles a dark moon below. Such celestial symbols often represent duality: light and dark, masculine and feminine, conscious and unconscious. This division is found again and again, as it resurfaces in different contexts. Consider the ancient Greek god Apollo associated with the sun, reason, and order, versus the goddess Diana linked to the moon, intuition, and wild nature. The image also contains an ancient symbol of the snake biting its tail in the shape of number eight, the Ouroboros. The star-covered bodies evoke the cosmos, a reflection of our attempts to find harmony within ourselves and the universe, a quest that resonates through centuries of artistic expression. This interplay between darkness and light is a powerful emotional force. Like an eternal dance, it engages viewers on a subconscious level with questions of balance, and cosmic order.