-Waterwitch- outboard motor c. 20th century

Here we have John R. Morgan’s Waterwitch outboard motor, a testament to American ingenuity. The name itself, Waterwitch, evokes powerful imagery. In folklore, witches are figures who harness mystical forces, often associated with nature, and in this case, water. The Waterwitch motor reminds us of humankind’s enduring effort to harness the natural world. The witch motif can be traced back to ancient Greek mythology with figures like Circe, who used her knowledge of herbs and potions to control her surroundings. In this modern context, Morgan’s "Waterwitch" symbolizes control over nature, the motor becoming a conduit for our collective desire to navigate and command the aquatic realm. Consider how the visual language of technology and myth intertwine here, reflecting humanity's ongoing negotiation with the forces of nature and the subconscious. The symbol of the witch reappears, not as a figure of fear, but as a representation of the mysteries of the deep and our unending quest to explore it.