Iron Hitching Post c. 1939

Rose Campbell-Gerke made this drawing of an iron hitching post using watercolour and graphite on paper. It’s so interesting to me, the idea of someone making a drawing of a functional object like this. You know, a hitching post is there to serve a purpose, but here it is, isolated on the page, almost like a portrait. I imagine Rose carefully rendering the textures and details, feeling the weight and coolness of the iron in her mind as she worked. The muted palette—greys and browns—gives it a somber feel, yet the decorative elements, like the eagle head, add a touch of whimsy. It reminds me of those WPA-era artists documenting American life, finding beauty in the everyday. It makes you wonder about all the unseen artistry around us, doesn’t it? The craft and care embedded in the objects we often take for granted.