Lantern c. 1941

Margaret Golden's watercolor, "Lantern," offers a glimpse into an era of both artistic documentation and personal expression. Born in 1855, Golden navigated a world where women artists often found themselves confined to specific genres, such as decorative arts. This lantern, rendered with delicate precision, speaks to the intersection of utility and artistry. It evokes the domestic sphere, a space historically associated with women. Golden’s careful attention to detail elevates the everyday object, inviting us to consider the lives illuminated by such a light. What does it mean to cast a light on the familiar? How does Golden’s rendering of this simple lantern challenge or reinforce societal expectations of women artists and their subject matter? It leaves us to consider the quiet power of the domestic, and the subtle ways in which women have shaped our visual culture.