Saint Michael's Gates c. 1937

Anna Heyward Taylor created this woodcut print of Saint Michael's Gates. The elaborate ironwork gates form a barrier, yet they are also transparent, hinting at both exclusion and invitation. Gates, like thresholds, are powerful symbols marking a transition, a passage from one state to another. In ancient Roman traditions, Janus, the god of doorways, embodies this duality. Here, the woman carrying a basket on her head evokes similar images found across cultures, from ancient Egyptian murals to depictions of caryatids in classical architecture. These figures, often women, bear weight upon their heads, a motif that carries complex associations of labor, strength, and even subjugation. Over time, the meaning of this gesture has shifted, reflecting changing social dynamics and cultural values, yet it retains a primal connection to the burdens and resilience of the human spirit. The artist has captured a fleeting moment, inviting us to ponder the enduring power of these archetypal symbols.