Monocle and Eye (light blue), from Jocular Ocular series (N221) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This small print, made by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, presents us with a single eye, encircled as if viewed through a monocle. The eye, a potent symbol across cultures, has long been associated with perception, knowledge, and insight. Consider its ancient roots: the Eye of Horus in Egyptian mythology, a symbol of protection, royal power, and good health, or the all-seeing eyes in religious icons. Here, though, the detached eye floats in isolation, bringing to mind the Cyclops, a symbol of brute strength and limited perspective. This image, through its separation and magnification, compels us to consider what is seen, what is missed, and what watches us in return. It reminds us that symbols never truly disappear; they merely transform, resurfacing in unexpected guises, carrying echoes of the past into the present.