Figurehead: Eagle c. 1937

Frances Cohen rendered this figurehead in muted tones of pale blue, gray, and white, probably in her studio. I imagine her carefully building up layers of pigment to achieve the subtle gradations of light and shadow on the carved details of the eagle. What was she thinking as she painted each feather? She captured the three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface, playing with the illusion of depth. It reminds me of the trompe-l'oeil paintings by 17th-century artists, where objects are depicted with such realism that they appear to emerge from the canvas. There is a softness and elegance to Cohen’s line work, capturing the spirit and form of this proud bird. The eagle seems ready to take flight, a symbol of freedom and power.