Beaded Purse c. 1936

This is a drawing of a beaded purse made by Jessie M. Benge, representing a quaint, pastoral scene dominated by a church. The church is a powerful symbol, historically and culturally, as a beacon of community, faith, and stability. Notice how this motif of sanctuary is interwoven with the natural world: the tree, a timeless symbol of life, growth, and interconnectedness. The image reminds us of illuminated manuscripts, where the sacred and the everyday intertwined, much like the church presiding over the landscape. The church appearing here echoes across time. Think of similar structures in medieval tapestries, always representing a center of spiritual and communal life. Like a recurring dream, it reappears in our collective consciousness, each time slightly altered, yet still fundamentally the same. Consider the emotional weight of this image. Does it evoke nostalgia, longing, or perhaps a sense of peace? Such feelings are potent reminders of how art engages us on a subconscious level, drawing from a well of shared symbols and cultural memories. The symbol of a church in a landscape is not just visual, it is deeply felt.