Eagle 1865 - 1890

This ‘Eagle’ was carved by Wilhelm Schimmel sometime in the late nineteenth century, likely from a piece of white pine, then painted. Schimmel was an itinerant artist, who often bartered his carvings for food and lodging in the Appalachian region of the United States. You can see the marks of the knife very clearly. Each stroke is assertive, giving the eagle a lively, somewhat rough-hewn character. The paint accentuates the texture of the wood, giving depth to the feathers and other details. Though Schimmel was working in a rural context, he was still very much part of a wider economy. His carvings were not just personal expressions, they were commodities. Schimmel’s story invites us to reflect on the relationship between art, labor, and survival. He was a skilled maker, but also a working man making a living. His work challenges the line between fine art and craft. It also reminds us that art is often born out of necessity, ingenuity, and the simple desire to create something beautiful.