Horse Watch Fob c. 1937

Tulita Westfall made this drawing of a horse watch fob, using graphite and colored pencil, at an unknown date. While we don't have much information about this specific drawing, the very subject of it speaks volumes about the culture that produced it. During Westfall's lifetime, from 1855 to 1995, the United States saw a massive shift in how people related to horses. No longer a primary means of transportation or agricultural labor, horses became symbols of leisure and wealth. This drawing, depicting a horse transformed into a decorative watch fob, captures that transition. It’s a moment when an animal of labor becomes an object of personal adornment. Understanding this artwork requires us to consider how social and economic changes influence our relationship with animals and the objects we create. By looking at historical records, like advertisements and fashion magazines, we can begin to understand the cultural values attached to the horse during Westfall's life, and the meaning it takes on in her art.