Judy Chicago's "Into the Darkness" is the converse of her "Through the Flower" image. "Into the Darkness" features floral petals that are still closed, beckoning the viewer to enter the void, represented by the circular central image. This circular image is symbolically linked to creation, fertility, and infinity in the history of art. Judy Chicago, having self-educated herself in the symbolism inherent in artwork by women artists throughout history, identified the circular image as a recurring, central core image in their works. Adopting the image in her work here, Chicago is seemingly identifying the passage through the dark void as a necessary precursor to the experience of unfolding the flower and experiencing the fullness of life as a woman.