Ship's Carving c. 1939

Albert Rudin made this ship carving, we don't know when, but the process is clear. He took a piece of wood and gouged away at it, dug into it, to create an image. The wood itself has a lovely warm tone, like burnt sugar. You can see the marks of the tools, the way the light catches on the ridges and valleys he created. Look at the eagle's feathers, how each one is carefully rendered. It's not just about representation, it's about the feel of the wood, the way it yields to the artist's hand. It's as though the image is emerging from the material itself. You can imagine that process - the slow, deliberate carving, the way the artist would have turned the piece, and held it, getting closer and closer to the final form. I like how the stars at the top are slightly asymmetrical, as if they were made by hand, not machine. This reminds me a little of work by Elie Nadelman, who had a similar interest in folk art and simplified forms, especially in his sculptures. Art is always a conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.