Hat-rack c. 1941

Pearl Davis rendered this drawing of a hat-rack, depicting a fascinating arrangement of interconnected loops, each secured with rivets. The loops suggest a chain motif, an ancient symbol often associated with unity, connection, and sometimes, constraint. From the Bronze Age, chain links have represented linked destinies. Consider the Gnostic symbol of the Ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, embodying the cyclical nature of time. The hat-rack’s loops, with their decorative trefoil elements, remind us of the constant recycling of forms and ideas in art. These shapes resonate with earlier symbols and designs, a testament to the enduring human quest for order. It's as if Davis unconsciously channeled this visual vocabulary, echoing through centuries. The hat-rack is more than a simple object; it becomes a nexus of collective memory, drawing us into a deeper understanding of how we shape our world.