Pillow Top Insert 1940

Albert Ryder crafted this textile work, "Pillow Top Insert," with an eye for the symbols of identity and power. Here, a figure stands adorned with distinctive headdress and attire, bearing a staff – emblems deeply rooted in the visual language of leadership and cultural belonging. These symbols echo across time, appearing in ancient depictions of royalty and divinity. Think of the scepters of pharaohs or the feathered headdresses of indigenous rulers, each carrying the weight of authority and ancestral connection. The staff, in particular, evokes a sense of guidance and protection, resonating with the subconscious need for order and stability. Consider its resemblance to the shepherd's crook, a symbol of care and direction in both religious and secular contexts. Such symbols persist, evolving yet retaining a core emotional power, constantly reshaping our understanding of ourselves and our shared history.