Weather Vane c. 1939

This watercolor of a weather vane was made by Louis Plogsted, though we don't know exactly when. But I love how it gives this handmade object a new, more intimate feel. Plogsted isn't trying to represent the vane perfectly; instead, he allows for a looser translation. See how the colour is applied in thin washes, almost like a stain, making the arrow appear aged and worn? It emphasizes the texture of the object, the gentle gradations of light and shadow. Then, just behind the arrow-head, you can see these tiny, scattered dots. They're not perfectly rendered, but they create a sense of depth and dimensionality, highlighting the material quality of the wood. The arrow, of course, symbolizes direction, a guide to the wind's path. In Plogsted's hands, it also points towards the way we translate and reimagine the world around us, much like Joseph Stella did with his industrial landscapes. Art isn't about fixed meanings, but about embracing ambiguity.