Untying Collection

Untying Otto after 45 yd. swim - hands and feet tied, (1910?). Creator: Bain News Service
Untying Otto after 45 yd. swim - hands and feet tied, (1910?). Shows Vice Commodore Edward F. Otto, who gave swimming exhibitions in the New York City area with his hands tied behind his back.

Underwater escapologist - a boy dives into a swimming pool to help a man untie himself from a chair. (1 of 3) Date: 1967

Raising of Lazarus (tempera on panel)
REV346193 Raising of Lazarus (tempera on panel) by Master of the Tiburtine Sibyl (fl.c.1480-95); Museo de San Carlos, Mexico City, Mexico; (add.info.: resurrection de Lazare; raised from the dead; )

Athena Nike adjusting her sandal, c. 420-420 BC (marble)
XZL149434 Athena Nike adjusting her sandal, c.420-420 BC (marble) by Greek, (5th century BC); Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece; Greek, out of copyright

What can be done with Wild Horses, Sketches at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster (engraving)
1624326 What can be done with Wild Horses, Sketches at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster (engraving) by Courbould, Alfred (fl.1831-75); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Snake in the Grass (Love Unloosing the Zone of Beauty), 1785 (oil on canvas)
1065292 The Snake in the Grass (Love Unloosing the Zone of Beauty), 1785 (oil on canvas) by Reynolds, Joshua (1723-92); 124.5x99.5 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

The Knot, 1872 (oil over silver gilt on panel)
5889103 The Knot, 1872 (oil over silver gilt on panel) by Poynter, Edward John (1836-1919); 20.3x20.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: One of a pair)

Corset - Reznicek 1908
A husband or lover assists a lady in removing her corset. Date: 1908

The Corset -- a young woman tying or untying her corset. circa 1850s

Cupid Untying the Zone of Venus, 1788. Artist: Sir Joshua Reynolds
Cupid Untying the Zone of Venus, 1788. Reynolds, Sir Joshua (1732-1792). Found in the collection of the State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Soldier unties a rope to tow a humvee out of the mud
February 4, 2006 - Soldier unties a rope to tow a humvee out of the mud during a convoy patrol in the Zafaraniyah District

The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian in the Chapel of Benedict XIII (oil on canvas)
XIR438848 The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian in the Chapel of Benedict XIII (oil on canvas) by Sforza, Alberto (18th century); Vatican Museums and Galleries

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"Untying the Bonds: A Daring Underwater Rescue in 1967" In a mesmerizing act of bravery, an underwater escapologist defies the depths to free a man entangled in a chair. This captivating series of photographs captures the heart-stopping moments as a young boy fearlessly dives into a swimming pool to aid the desperate captive. Dated back to 1967, these snapshots reveal an extraordinary display of courage and quick thinking. In the first image, we witness the tension building as our hero prepares for his daring plunge. With determination etched on his face, he takes that fateful leap into the unknown. The second photo encapsulates pure chaos submerged beneath crystal-clear waters. The boy's nimble fingers work swiftly against time, skillfully untying each knot that binds the helpless man. As bubbles escape their mouths and rise towards freedom above, hope flickers amidst this aquatic struggle. Finally, in an exhilarating climax captured in the third picture, liberation is achieved. The once-trapped individual emerges from his watery prison with gratitude etched upon his face, and is through this young savior's selflessness and resourcefulness that another life has been untangled from captivity. These images evoke echoes of other artistic masterpieces throughout history where "untying" becomes symbolic of liberation itself. From Lazarus rising from death's grip to Mazeppa's wild ride towards freedom or even Athena Nike gracefully adjusting her sandal - all depict various forms of release from constraints that bind us. Even fashion plays its part in this narrative; corsets symbolize both restriction and emancipation simultaneously - Reznicek's Corset (1908) serves as a reminder of societal norms being undone while Cupid Untying Venus' Zone by Sir Joshua Reynolds illustrates love unraveling boundaries between hearts. Amidst it all lies The Knot (1872), an enigmatic artwork where silver gilt intertwines with oil, representing the intricacies of life's entanglements.