Breakfast at the Wright Hotel 

John Michael Carter captures a quiet breakfast scene with oil on canvas. The most striking symbol is the window, a large aperture letting in light, and the interior space as a theatre for life. The window has long been a motif representing both physical and metaphysical illumination, a portal between worlds. Consider the Renaissance paintings where windows often frame divine revelations, or the Dutch Masters who used windows to explore domestic life and inner reflection. Here, the window casts a soft glow, not unlike the light found in Vermeer's interiors, which are also contained spaces for interpersonal dramas to unfold. The arrangement of the figures, with the bright window behind them, suggests a psychological depth. The light may be interpreted as a symbol of hope or clarity, yet the figures remain in shadow, perhaps indicating the complexities of human relationships. This interplay of light and shadow engages us on a subconscious level, inviting our own memories and experiences into the scene. This symbol of light continues to resonate in art through the ages.