Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have "Weather Vane," a drawing made with graphite on paper, dating from 1935-1942, by Bernard Westmacott. It's so precise and...well, plain. What's your take? What do you see in it? Curator: Plain, yes, in the best way! It reminds me of a diagram, an instruction manual illustration, something almost clinical, yet there’s something undeniably charming and poetic about this utilitarian object depicted with such care. Look closely at the texture created by the graphite. What do you think that suggests? Editor: Um… the texture, maybe the aged metal of a real weather vane? It feels very meticulous, almost architectural. Curator: Exactly! And notice the almost surreal quality. The chicken is stylized almost like a child’s drawing. Yet, it is rendered so skillfully. What about its spirit and meaning, and the implied invisible wind? Weather vanes point in different directions as the winds shift - that’s true whether they look like this one, a horse, or other symbol. Editor: It’s funny to think this simple image has a wild side; the winds dictating which way to turn! And seeing how meticulous it is does change my mind, maybe more loving than plain. Curator: Precisely! I feel Bernard loved and felt some connection to the object.