Eggs and String 1938

This is Nathan Lerner's photograph featuring eggs suspended by strings against a stark background. The egg, an ancient symbol of fertility and new beginnings, hovers here in a complex interplay of lines. The image is reminiscent of the cosmic egg found in creation myths across cultures, from ancient Egypt to India, where the universe is born from a single, primordial egg. Here, the strings might represent the threads of fate, the interconnectedness of life, or even the fragile nature of existence itself. Consider how the egg motif appears in other contexts: Easter eggs, symbols of rebirth and resurrection in Christian tradition, or the ornate, jewel-encrusted Fabergé eggs of Imperial Russia, symbols of wealth, power and artistic skill. This photograph by Lerner seems to distill these varied meanings into a minimalist form, inviting us to contemplate the enduring power of this ancient symbol and its ability to evoke deep-seated emotions and associations within us. The cyclical progression of symbols is apparent: an old symbol continually evolves and resurfaces, each time carrying a different meaning.