Stern Piece: Eagle c. 1939

Mary E. Humes rendered this eagle, likely as part of a WPA project, with watercolor and graphite. It’s a detailed rendering, almost diagrammatic, and painted with a real love for craft. There’s something endearing in the way the colors, mostly earth tones, are applied. It’s not about blending or creating illusions of light; it’s more about describing the texture and form through simple color choices. Take a look at the wings. See how each feather is individually stroked with color, creating a pattern that's both natural and stylized? It reminds me of folk art, where the act of making is as important as the image itself. I see a connection to Joseph Stella, who also found a way to balance realism and abstraction in his work, and how both artists share a love of line and a willingness to let the process show. This piece is a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue, each artist riffing on what came before.