Wooden Pig 1935 - 1942

Curator: This unassuming work, entitled "Wooden Pig," created by Wilbur M Rice sometime between 1935 and 1942, presents us with a deceptively simple form. Note the materials used: pencil and colored pencil on paper. It appears to be a study of a wood sculpture, likely a folk-art piece. Editor: It looks like he just picked up a pencil and thought, "I'm gonna draw that pig!" There's a certain lightness to it, a carefree innocence almost. Like it was made by someone who loves pigs! Curator: Precisely! It’s the directness that intrigues. The artist isn’t concerned with overt symbolism or complex narratives, instead honing in on form. Consider the subtle variations in tone created through the layering of colored pencil. The hatching and cross-hatching suggest volume, emphasizing the three-dimensionality of the subject matter. Editor: I love the subtle highlights. That one tiny black dot for the eye – brilliant. Almost gives the impression the pig is about to wink at us, full of mischief. Maybe he's got a secret. You know, a secret stash of acorns or something. Curator: That "wink," as you call it, underscores the element of realism embedded in the work. Although simple in its execution, it offers a carefully observed representation of an object. Also, this unassuming creature allows us to engage with discussions about representation and perception. The sculpture seems primitive, folk, naïve but Rice's style appears like photographic realism which then adds conceptual layers of visual interest and questions around visuality and depiction. Editor: It also seems to be hovering ever so slightly above the "ground" and, with a softer color palette, you could see it rendered as if angelic. A flying pig -- dreams DO come true! Curator: Interesting thought. Well, seeing it through your eyes makes me think beyond its artistic analysis and ponder how whimsicality, imagination, humor and even dreams do offer significant dimensions in visual representation. Editor: I think that little pig got me too, perhaps whispering a tale from its oaken origins.