Eye and Strings 1939

Editor: We’re looking at Nathan Lerner’s "Eye and Strings" from 1939, a gelatin silver print. It’s a stark image, an eye suspended in darkness, caught in what looks like a web of light. What do you see in this piece, in terms of its cultural implications? Curator: This photograph vibrates with the anxieties of its time. Think about 1939—the world teetering on the brink of war. The eye, a symbol of surveillance and vision, is trapped. Is it seeing, or is it being watched? The strings evoke control, but also fragility. Considering Lerner’s involvement with the New Bauhaus, do you see the geometric elements reflecting a desire to find order during social unrest? Editor: I see the geometry, but the eye feels so organic, so vulnerable, against those rigid lines. The contrast feels intentional, almost unsettling. Curator: Exactly. It speaks to the tension between the individual and oppressive structures. This pre-war period saw increased surveillance, a rise of authoritarianism… The eye, representative of individual perspective, is visually ensnared by forces unseen. Consider how gender and power dynamics play out in these anxieties. Do you think the ‘gaze,’ often discussed in feminist theory, is relevant here? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but definitely. The eye as the object of a potentially malevolent gaze... It makes me consider who has the power to see, and who is subjected to being seen. Curator: Precisely! And consider how the Surrealist movement, of which Lerner was associated, engaged with subconscious fears and desires, often disrupting traditional power structures. Editor: This makes the photograph much more complex than I initially perceived. It's not just a strange image, but a reflection of social fears. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a potent reminder that art doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's intertwined with our historical and political realities. I will look at things with new eyes (no pun intended). Editor: Definitely. The layers of meaning within "Eye and Strings" show that even abstract works are relevant and can be rooted in history and politics. Thanks for this enriching experience.