Wooden Figure 1935 - 1942

This drawing by Bernard Westmacott depicts a wooden figure, and it invites us to consider the relationship between representation and reality. I imagine Westmacott, pencil in hand, carefully studying the form and texture of the wooden figure, trying to capture its essence on paper. You can almost feel the weight of the wood, the grain, the slight imperfections that give it character. It’s like Westmacott is in conversation with this object, trying to understand its story. The drawing itself has a certain directness and honesty. The figure appears to be directing or communicating something, and Westmacott captures that sense of purpose. Painters and sculptors, through observation and interpretation, engage in a process of inquiry and translation. Each mark, each line, becomes a means of exploring the world around us, reflecting our perceptions and shaping our understanding.