Carved Policeman 1935 - 1942

This is Mildred Bent's "Carved Policeman." The figure stands rigidly in uniform, complete with a hat, badge, and baton. Here, we see echoes of ancient authority figures, pharaohs and emperors, rendered in wood. The baton, a symbol of power, has origins in scepters of antiquity, like the staff of Hermes, a visual tool representing trade, negotiation, and boundaries. Over time it has resurfaced as a symbol of command, yet here, it's carved with a visible texture, suggesting a human touch, hinting at the complex nature of authority. This wooden figure embodies a tension between control and vulnerability. It makes me think about how such symbols reflect our collective anxieties and hopes. A reminder that these motifs are never static; instead, they are constantly reinterpreted, repurposed, and imbued with new psychological weight.