Spinning Wheel 1935 - 1942

Eugene Barrell made this drawing of a spinning wheel, with what looks like colored pencil or maybe watercolor. What strikes me is the precision of the linework— it's so exact, like a technical drawing but softened by the warmth of the wood tones. The color is really economical, just enough to give form and a sense of the object's weight and texture. Look closely at the spokes of the wheel: the lines are confident and regular, creating a mesmerizing pattern that suggests motion. I think it's interesting how Barrell frames the wheel with a simple box, almost like he's presenting it as a specimen. It reminds me a little of Joseph Cornell’s boxes, where everyday objects are transformed into something precious and strange. It’s not just a spinning wheel; it's an artifact, a piece of history, and a testament to the beauty of functional objects. It makes you wonder about all the stories this wheel could tell.