Pinball and Chain c. 1936

This work by Frederick Jackson depicts a pinball and chain, rendered with precision in watercolor and graphite. The pinball, tethered by its chain, embodies a curious tension between freedom and constraint. The chain, a motif stretching back to antiquity, often symbolizes connection or bondage. Think of the chains that bind Prometheus, or the delicate golden chains adorning figures in Renaissance paintings, each instance reflecting humanity's enduring fascination with connectivity. Consider how the chain appears in various forms, from simple physical restraints to the more abstract chains of command or social structures. Jackson's deliberate rendering of this symbol suggests the push and pull between liberty and control. The emotional weight, almost a collective memory, deeply engages the viewer, drawing them to the underlying psychological narrative of the motif. A symbol that will continue its non-linear progression through art history, ever-evolving, and resurfacing in new contexts.