Under the Table 1939

Will Barnet created this print, Under the Table, employing stark contrasts to illuminate a realm of childhood wonder. The child beneath the table exists in a world marked by a unique symbolism. This space, reminiscent of a sacred enclosure, has parallels with the 'axis mundi'—the world's center found in diverse cultures. Like the ancient Roman household gods known as Lares, the child here finds a world in miniature. The table, an altar of daily life, casts a shadow that offers both shelter and a stage for the imagination. The blocks scattered on the floor, simple in form, echo the building blocks of civilization itself, hinting at the potential held within this small, self-contained world. This echoes throughout history, from sacred groves to hidden gardens, places where one can explore the deepest and most primal emotions.