Square Lantern c. 1939

This is a drawing of a square lantern, made by Lazar Rubinstein using graphite on paper. At first glance, it is a simple rendering of a functional object, yet it echoes much deeper cultural symbols. Notice the lantern's perforations resembling stylized figures; the association of light with knowledge and divinity is ancient and ubiquitous. The lantern, as a bringer of light, mirrors the sacred flames found in temples across civilizations, from the eternal flame of Vesta to the menorahs of Judaism. Light symbolizes hope and guidance. Yet this image taps into something more primal. Light repels the darkness, it illuminates the unknown, evoking a psychological state of security. The darkness, or the fear of it, is a universal human experience, and the emotional response to light can be deeply ingrained. The evolution and reappearance of symbols of light speaks to our eternal quest for knowledge.