Bull's Eye Lamp c. 1939

Charlotte Winter rendered this Bull’s Eye Lamp in graphite on paper, capturing more than just its form. Consider the singular, focused lens of the lamp; it's an ancient symbol of enlightenment and vision. The ‘bull’s eye’ isn’t just about illumination. Think of the all-seeing eyes in ancient Egyptian art, or the protective eye amulets found across the Mediterranean, each a beacon against darkness and ignorance. The lamp carries forward this motif, shifting from divine watchfulness to a tool for human clarity. The act of focusing light, reducing the world to a point of intense visibility, suggests a deeper psychological desire to understand, to cut through the shadows of doubt. This symbol, rooted in our collective unconscious, reappears through history. Whether warding off evil or seeking knowledge, the focused gaze remains a potent emblem of our eternal quest for meaning.