Hitching Post c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser created this watercolor work of art called “Hitching Post.” The figure of an African American boy holding a ring, immediately invokes the imagery of servitude and restraint. This image echoes the complicated history of colonialism and slavery. Consider the ring, a universal symbol of connection and commitment, here twisted into an emblem of bondage. The boy himself is frozen mid-gesture, his posture reminiscent of classical statues, yet subverted by his role as a mere object. We can trace the origins of this symbol back through centuries. Recall classical antiquity's depiction of chained figures, symbols of subjugation. Yet, here, the figure is Black, his story entwined with the historical atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade. This is how symbols transcend time, burdened with layers of cultural and historical weight. This image is not just a depiction; it's a potent exploration of memory, history, and the human psyche.