Comb c. 1936

Sylvia Dezon rendered this study of a comb with watercolor and graphite. A seemingly mundane object, yet consider the symbolic weight it bears! Encircled by ornate leaves, the comb's teeth suggest a connection to ancient agricultural tools, instruments that tame the wildness of nature. Similarly, the act of combing, repeated through generations, speaks to our innate need for order and control. This is not mere grooming, but a ritual of self-presentation deeply rooted in cultural memory. The decorative motifs echo those found on reliquaries or illuminated manuscripts, elevating the comb beyond its utilitarian function. We see how the need to adorn everyday objects transcends time, resurfacing in varied forms, echoing through history. This echoes the human psyche's constant striving for beauty amidst utility. The comb becomes a potent symbol, a vessel carrying the weight of cultural history and personal identity.