Brooch c. 1940

Here is Isidore Steinberg’s “Brooch”, an undated design crafted with ink and watercolor over graphite. The eye is immediately drawn to the salamander, its sinuous form bejeweled with what appear to be rubies and pearls. This motif is a direct descendent of the ancient symbol of the serpent or dragon, a chthonic creature associated with the earth's hidden powers. Consider its recurrence throughout history; from the Ouroboros, the snake consuming its tail as a symbol of the eternal return, to the dragons guarding treasures in folklore. Here the salamander has metamorphosed into a decorative object, tamed and refined for the world of fashion. Yet, even in this domesticated form, the salamander retains a primal magnetism. It is in its cold-bloodedness and its connection to the earth, a reminder of the elemental forces that continue to shape our subconscious, emerging from the depths of the collective unconscious.