Night Club Lights 1938

Evelynne Mess captured a Chicago night scene in this print. Light emanates from various urban structures, each with a unique symbolic weight. The water tower, a utilitarian structure, becomes a beacon, reminiscent of ancient lighthouses guiding nocturnal wanderers. The prominence of night clubs brings to mind ancient Dionysian festivals, spaces where societal norms are relaxed under the dim, secretive cover of darkness. Consider how the ‘high hat’ of the club sign echoes not just fashion but status, linking it back to Renaissance portraiture where hats signified rank. The bare tree in the foreground, a symbol of winter's grip, juxtaposes the warmth and indulgence promised within the clubs. Light, then, is the central motif. It invites and guides, promising ephemeral pleasure. This interplay of darkness and light has always resonated deeply, reflecting our primal fascination with the unknown. The recurring emergence of these symbols across epochs underscores a timeless human quest for meaning and belonging in the urban night.