Shrine for the Egg 

Miriam Schapiro’s mixed media, Shrine for the Egg, presents us with a potent symbol: the egg, enshrined. The egg, an ancient symbol of potential and birth, rests atop a pyramidal form reminiscent of ziggurats or ancient burial mounds. In many cultures, such structures were seen as points of communication between earthly and divine realms. Here, the egg is elevated, almost worshipped, suggesting a reverence for the life-giving force it represents. This composition subtly echoes earlier iconographies, such as the Renaissance-era altarpieces where saints or the Madonna were placed within a niche, framed by an arch and ornamentation. Consider the checkered pattern, often associated with games and strategic maneuvering, that form the pyramid. This pattern is a motif we've seen in Persian miniature painting, in the floors of Roman villas, and even in the clothing of figures in early Netherlandish art. The re-emergence of this pattern, now in Schapiro's shrine, subtly challenges our conventional associations, inviting us to see it as a symbolic game of life and creation. The psychological impact of enshrining an egg—a symbol of potential—resonates deeply. It evokes primal feelings connected with fertility, creation, and the cyclical nature of existence. This Shrine for the Egg, then, isn't just a visual spectacle; it's a conduit to the emotional power that this image has accrued over time, a power that continues to engage viewers on a profound level.