Wagon Jack 1935 - 1942

Here's a watercolor on paper of a Wagon Jack by Samuel W. Ford. The jack itself, of course, would have been made from wood, carefully shaped and assembled with metal fixings. What’s interesting about this image is the relationship between the artwork and its subject matter. The wagon jack is an object of pure utility. It’s meant to be used and abused in the service of transportation and agriculture. The artist, though, has taken the time to represent it with careful attention, highlighting the textures and joinery, even the grain of the wood. It might be compared to the work of the American Precisionists, who were fascinated by the clean lines of industrial production, but here, there’s a handmade quality that prevails. Ultimately, this image asks us to consider the beauty and ingenuity inherent in the objects we rely on every day. It’s a reminder that even the most humble tools can be sources of inspiration, and that the line between art and craft is often blurred.