Cock Weather Vane c. 1938

Hazel Hyde painted this Cock Weather Vane, sometime between 1855 and 1995, but we don’t know what with. The palette is all in these reddish, browny hues, and the brushwork is so free and loose that you get this sense of process and discovery. Up close, you can really see the texture of the paper coming through, and the way the paint seems to skip and dance across the surface. Like, if you look at the tail, you can see how the brushstrokes almost mimic the grain of the wood itself. This gives the whole thing a kind of raw, earthy quality. It’s almost like Hyde is inviting us to witness the act of painting itself, rather than just presenting us with a finished image. I can’t help but think of Charles Demuth when I look at this piece. They both have this uncanny ability to breathe life into everyday objects. This piece, it’s about more than just a rooster; it’s about capturing a fleeting moment, a feeling, an idea, and letting it fly free on the wind.