First Monday c. 1935 - 1940

This woodcut titled 'First Monday' by Alma Lucile Land Lacy captures the bustling atmosphere of a market day. The imagery focuses on the symbolic value of everyday scenes. The horse, a central motif, reminds us of the classical allegories where it embodies vitality and movement. In stark contrast is the telephone pole towering above, signaling modernity. This juxtaposition echoes through art history where nature is intertwined with the burgeoning symbols of industrial progress. Consider equine depictions, from the warhorses of antiquity to humble beasts of burden, which have served as recurring motifs, changing in meaning with societal shifts. The crowded marketplace itself, a site of exchange and interaction, becomes a stage for communal rituals. It’s an image that touches our collective memory, resonating deeply within our shared cultural consciousness. The motifs in this artwork invite us to consider the cyclical nature of symbols. They evolve and resurface, carrying new meanings while retaining echoes of their past.