Horse Drawn Hay Fork c. 1941

Frances Godfrey crafted this watercolor of a ‘Horse Drawn Hay Fork.’ It is simple, yet dense with the symbolism of agrarian life. Consider the hayfork itself. A tool of harvest, it transcends mere functionality. We find its echoes in antiquity: pitchforks wielded by rebellious peasants in medieval woodcuts, the trident of Poseidon, god of the sea. The prongs, sharp and purposeful, suggest not only sustenance but also potential unrest, reflecting our primal connection to the earth. The hayfork is not merely an object; it is a vessel of cultural memory, a testament to our enduring relationship with the land. Like ancient talismans, it embodies the hope for fruitful yields and the ever-present threat of scarcity. It is a symbol that engages us on a visceral level, stirring deep-seated emotions tied to survival and the cycles of nature.