Wagon Bench c. 1938

Vincent P. Rosel made this ‘Wagon Bench’ in a time frame we don’t know, using an unknown medium on paper. What strikes me about this piece is how Rosel uses color to evoke a sense of worn texture. The blues and grays aren’t just colors; they feel like the memory of paint, embedded into the grain of the wood. The piece is meticulously outlined, and in places the paint pools and bleeds, creating soft edges and a gentle rhythm. Look closely at where the leg meets the seat. See how the paint is layered, almost like sediment? It reminds me of a geological formation, or a landscape seen from above. This layering adds depth and complexity, hinting at the bench's history and the many hands that might have touched it over the years. Rosel’s play of light and shadow gives the bench a sculptural presence, making it feel both solid and ethereal. I'm reminded of how Giorgio Morandi could turn humble objects into monumental still lifes. Rosel shares that sensibility, elevating the ordinary to something profound.