Eagle Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Editor: This tempera drawing depicts an eagle weather vane and was created by Chris Makrenos between 1935 and 1942. There is something quite imposing and majestic about the piece. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: I am interested in the complex symbolism of the eagle, particularly during this time period. In American iconography, it's tied to freedom and power. But, during the interwar period, these symbols were being appropriated globally in various nationalistic projects, some aligned with very dark political movements. Editor: So, you’re saying the image might have different connotations depending on the viewer's background and the political climate? Curator: Precisely. How might someone from, say, a colonized nation interpret this symbol compared to someone within the US at the time? I wonder if Makrenos was trying to critique or perhaps embrace that symbolism. Also, given the dates, this image was likely created in the late Depression Era or early years of WWII. What might the implications of depicting national pride at this time mean? Editor: That is really insightful; I hadn’t considered that layered political context. What do you make of the weather vane itself? Curator: Weather vanes point to direction and change. The choice to depict the eagle as a weather vane might also suggest the fluctuating and uncertain state of American identity. Are we committed to the ideals the eagle is supposed to embody, or are we shifting with the winds? It definitely gives me food for thought. Editor: It's fascinating to see how one image can contain so many different interpretations! I’ll definitely be looking at art differently from now on.