Hitching Post 1935 - 1942

Robert Taylor’s watercolor, Hitching Post, presents us with a figure holding a ring, a symbol laden with historical weight. This seemingly simple object—a ring—echoes back to ancient power symbols, like the scepter or royal seal, denoting authority and control. Consider the gesture: the figure extends the ring outward. It's reminiscent of the Roman practice of offering keys as a sign of welcome or submission. Yet, here, the context shifts. The figure's attire hints at servitude, a painful chapter in American history. The ring, once a symbol of welcome, now becomes an instrument of restriction. This evolution mirrors the complex ways in which symbols morph across time. They resurface, transformed by the currents of history and collective memory. Taylor’s work thus invites us to reflect on how these cultural echoes reverberate within us, engaging with the art on a profound and subconscious level.