Wooden Figure c. 1936

Elmer G. Anderson made this *Wooden Figure* out of who knows what materials, sometime between 1855 and 1995. I like how this character’s got a bit of a strut, like he's about to give a speech, or maybe he's just spotted someone he knows across the room. The earthy palette feels very grounded, but that little fist, raised in the air, hints at something more. You know, I can imagine Elmer sketching this guy out, maybe from a wooden carving, and trying to capture his essence with each stroke. It makes me wonder what he was thinking about, what stories he wanted to tell. It's almost like you can feel his hand moving across the page, deciding where to add a shadow or a highlight. Painters are always chatting with each other, across time. It's less about copying and more about riffing, like jazz musicians. And like any good painting, this one’s not about telling you what to think, but inviting you to wonder.