Untitled (Couple on a Couch) c. 1938 - 1940

Edith Bry’s lithograph captures a domestic scene with a couple on a couch, their interaction mediated by modern contraptions. The woman, detached, rests, while the man is immersed in a book and a telephone call, symbols of modernity. Consider the domestic lamp, a symbol of safety and warmth, yet here it casts long shadows, suggesting unease. We find this motif echoed across time, from medieval tapestries depicting solitary figures in dimly lit chambers to Edward Hopper's stark portrayals of urban isolation. The telephone itself, intended to connect, stands here as a barrier, a modern-day Narcissus gazing into its own reflection. This is an interesting motif as the telephone’s original intent to connect, has often become a force of isolation. Our collective memory of such scenes evokes a sense of alienation, a subconscious recognition of the emotional distance that can pervade even the most intimate settings. It’s a cyclical return to themes of human connection and disconnection, recurring across epochs and artistic mediums, resonating with our shared experiences and subconscious anxieties.