Weather Vane c. 1940

Carl Strehlau captured this weather vane in watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper. Strehlau painted at a time when the United States was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. Think about how rural symbols like the rooster took on new meanings as cultural touchstones, representing a nostalgic connection to agrarian roots even as society shifted. The choice of the rooster as a weather vane figure isn’t accidental. Traditionally, roosters symbolize vigilance and are considered guardians against the unknown. The object is elevated, perched atop a sphere and what looks like a barrel, which imbues it with a sense of pride and authority. Yet, this symbol is rendered on paper, a flat representation of a three-dimensional object. Consider how Strehlau’s Weather Vane captures not just an object, but a moment of cultural transition, where symbols of the past are reimagined in an ever-changing world.