Iron Hatchet Head c. 1938

Sydney Roberts rendered this Iron Hatchet Head with watercolor. The hatchet, a potent symbol of power and labor, echoes through time. We see axes in ancient Minoan frescoes, wielded by priestesses, and in the hands of Roman lictors as a sign of authority. This hatchet, stark and isolated, invites contemplation. Consider how the axe has evolved - from a tool to shape the world, to an emblem of brute force, to even a symbol of state power. One can't help but think of the French revolution. Our collective memory associates the axe with both creation and destruction, conjuring primal fears and subconscious drives. Its cold, hard presence is a reminder of our own mortality, a memento mori of sorts. Yet, it is also a symbol of resilience, a tool to carve a future from the unknown. The hatchet thus remains forever suspended between progress and peril.