-Auto c. 1912s - 1922s

This cast iron "Auto", by the A.C. Williams Company, presents a striking image with its deep red color and simplified form. The texture of the aged metal creates a tactile quality that invites closer inspection. Notice how the artist reduced the essence of an automobile to basic geometric shapes. The rounded body and wheels contrast with the sharp edges of the windows, creating a sense of dynamic tension. The overall form is compact and sturdy, reflecting early 20th-century industrial design aesthetics. The choice of a single, dominant color unifies the piece. The reductive approach to form and color encourages us to look beyond mere representation and consider the underlying structure of the object itself. This distillation of form echoes the broader modernist project, stripping away ornamentation to reveal essential qualities. Consider how the artist uses this simplified structure to evoke a sense of nostalgia and historical context. The “Auto” functions not only as a visual object, but as a cultural artifact, inviting endless interpretations.