Crane Scissors

Although I have never owned a pair of my own crane scissors, I have always been fascinated by them. I carved this linoleum block, intending to make an edition of prints, but each one I printed felt unfinished.

In 2020 I learned that this whimsical bird design was inspired long ago by midwives who used a device shaped like a stork to clamp the umbilical cord of babies that had just been born.

I grabbed my watercolors and painted a twisting, freehand line passing through the beak of the bird and knew that it was complete. What does the red cord symbolize to you? Fate, life, death, or simply red thread, the interpretation is up to you.

Original block print with watercolor accent, printed on antique letter writing paper.

Approx 8" x 6".