Serpent Weather Vane c. 1938

Lloyd Broome, painted this serpentine weather vane, which is around 28 by 38 centimeters, probably using watercolor. It’s so simple and direct, you can see that the coiling snake emerged in a clear, decisive manner. The palette is very muted, Browns and greys, that give the snake a sense of quiet purpose as it navigates and announces the changing weather conditions. I can imagine the artist carefully plotting the snake’s anatomy, capturing its streamlined form, the stripes and patterns, and its readiness to strike. The little arrow that pierces through the snake’s body seems a bit violent, but it does add a sense of drama, maybe even fatality. Artists are always playing off each other, trying to one-up each other, having a silent dialogue across time. We keep looking at each other’s work and challenging each other. This painting feels like a clear and immediate invitation to the world of symbolic visual representation.