Door Knocker c. 1936

Janet Riza rendered this 'Door Knocker' in watercolor and graphite on paper. Note the acanthus leaf motif at the top, a symbol deeply rooted in classical antiquity, often adorning Corinthian columns, signifying endurance and immortality. Observe how Riza uses it here, a decorative flourish on an everyday object, a humble door knocker. This motif appears throughout history, from the friezes of ancient Greek temples to Renaissance frescoes and even contemporary designs. Its persistent presence speaks to our collective cultural memory, a subconscious connection to the past. The acanthus, once a sacred symbol, has morphed and adapted, appearing in secular and religious contexts alike. Consider the act of knocking, a gesture of seeking entry, a subtle invocation. The door knocker, as an object, straddles the threshold between public and private, external and internal, known and unknown.