The Magic Hat 1982

Frank Mason's painting presents us with a woman poised with a quill, seated amidst symbols of intellect and the celestial. Note the figures in the background, reminiscent of ancient muses or spiritual guides, their presence suggesting an intersection of earthly endeavors with divine inspiration. The quill in the woman's hand, a classic symbol of creation and knowledge, echoes the gesture found in countless depictions of scribes and evangelists throughout art history. Consider how the act of writing becomes a conduit, linking the material world, represented by the books and globe, with the ethereal realm hinted at in the background. This connection reflects a timeless yearning to understand our place in the cosmos, a quest seen in both ancient astrological charts and modern scientific inquiry. The painting invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of human knowledge. Mason’s work underscores the enduring power of symbols to resonate across epochs, connecting us to the collective unconscious, where memory and myth intertwine.