Wafer Iron 1936

This drawing by Raymond Manupelli depicts a wafer iron, an object used for making communion wafers, imprinted with symbolic designs. These designs, floral and geometric, carry deep religious significance. These motifs echo in various forms across cultures and epochs. The stylized flower, for instance, may remind us of ancient fertility symbols or the Christian rose, representing divine love. These symbols can be found in Byzantine mosaics, Gothic cathedrals, and even pagan iconography, each time reborn with a slightly altered meaning. Consider the subconscious power of such symbols. Passed down through generations, they trigger collective memories and emotions. The act of consuming a wafer marked with these symbols taps into a shared, almost primal understanding of faith and community, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.