Saddle c. 1941

This painting of a saddle, by Hal Blakeley, is like a piece of functional sculpture, rendered with such care. I’m thinking about the artist and the focused, almost loving attention to detail. The saddle feels soft, almost pillowy, not like you couldn’t sit in it! You can see how the artist meticulously built up the form with many thin layers. And the leather, with the intricate floral carvings, and even the small detail of a maker’s mark—they all testify to the life and practice of an artist. It reminds me of those old-timey photos of artisans proudly showing off their work. I get the sense Blakeley had a real thing for the craft of saddle-making, elevating the everyday into something, well, beautiful. It speaks to how artists borrow, steal, and pay homage to each other, across generations.