Three scratched Torsos by Robert Asman

Throughout history, the number three has had a unique significance. Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher, thought the number three was the perfect number, the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. It represented time, as in past, present and future, of birth, life and death; a beginning, a middle and an end.

In Christianity three is the number of the divine, the father, the son and the holy ghost, the number of wise men to visit baby Jesus.  Islam has its own Trinity in the Father, the Son and Maryam. The Tibetan Book of the Dead speaks of the three bodies of Buddhahood representing the three bodies of existence. In Judaism, Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem & Japheth and three Patriarchs Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Three is often the magic number in fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Billy Goats Gruff . Three is often the number of tests or trials a protagonist must accomplish. Fairy tale families often have three sons or three daughters, two with negative attributes while the third is virtuous and becomes the hero, as in Cinderella. Three is the number of wishes granted by a genie by rubbing a lamp or by catching a leprechaun.

We give three cheers and consider the third time a charm. Horse racing has its Triple Crown, baseball has three strikes. We may have watched The Three Stooges, The Three Amigos  or Three’s Company and who doesn’t know at least one verse to  Knock Three Times, Gimme Three Steps or “Three Times a Lady.”

So here you have it, not one, not two but, Three Scratched Torsos by Robert Asman. Make of them what you will.

 Gallery on American Photography Archives Group https://www.apag.us/robert-asman/

For exhibition, licensing, press or to purchase prints contact:  addisongeary@gmail.com