“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Gen. 2: 23-24
“ONE FLESH” symbolizes God’s perfect union between a man and a woman: the union in marriage, a union in spirit, mind and body. The fruits of that union are love, peace, hope, harmony, unity, equality and a common goal. In a word, it symbolizes “oneness.” And like every marriage, it is a work in progress.
In an artistic sense, the oneness can be discerned in the strong, symphonic lines which define the male and female torsos into a singular, harmonious image. Their eyes, subtly suggested within the soft shadows, are quietly fixed upon a common, yet distant point; a symbolic gesture conveying a union with a common vision and a united spirit. The woman’s body presents a comely, curved image highlighted with a long graceful neck and flowing breasts. Her strong curving hips, and her poised head — looking into the future — compliment the man from every perspective.
Strong, without being offensive, the man’s body presents smooth muscular arms, masculine shoulders and a strong back. His enlarged, powerful hands are delicately placed to hold and protect the woman. It all works to convey his gentle, caring strength. They are symbolically equal in their relationship, and though the woman is positioned first, the man’s head is shown leading — a visual signature of the man’s headship balanced with their equality.
As you study the two figures and contemplate the serenity of the image, you will begin to feel the oneness it portrays. In the final analysis, we all share the inner need to be united to — and completed by — our physical counterpart.
