Eye and Barbed Wire 1939

"Eye and Barbed Wire" is a haunting photograph by Nathan Lerner, created in 1939. This powerful black and white image depicts a single, artificial eye lying on a rough, barren terrain, entangled in barbed wire. The stark contrast of the smooth eye against the gritty texture of the earth, combined with the sharp, menacing presence of the barbed wire, creates a sense of vulnerability and entrapment. Lerner's use of a simple, direct composition and a low-key aesthetic amplifies the symbolic weight of the image, making it a poignant commentary on the harsh realities of the time.