Calico Printing Blocks c. 1940

Frank Gray created this study of Calico Printing Blocks in the early 20th century. The design features stylized wheat and a meandering band, motifs deeply embedded in our cultural memory. Wheat, a symbol of fertility and abundance, echoes through millennia, from ancient Egyptian harvest festivals to its presence in Greek and Roman art as an attribute of Ceres and Demeter. The meandering band, a simplified river, evokes life's journey, seen in ancient labyrinths and classical borders. Consider how these motifs resurface in unexpected contexts, each time infused with new meanings, yet still resonating with echoes of their past. The emotional power of these symbols lies in their ability to trigger deep-seated memories and associations, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. Indeed, symbols like wheat and meandering bands remind us of the non-linear nature of cultural transmission, surfacing, evolving, and taking on new forms in the ever-repeating cycles of history.