Cast Iron Hitching Post c. 1941

This artwork is V.L. Vance's rendering of a Cast Iron Hitching Post, made with graphite and watercolor. It is hard to say exactly when Vance painted this, but he was born in 1855 and died in 1945. The artist has chosen graphite and watercolor to depict an everyday object—one that would have stood outside a house in the early 20th century. I love the way Vance’s pencil strokes seem to mimic the coarse texture of the original cast iron. The grey washes of color add another layer, highlighting the object’s muted tones. The dog sits proudly atop the pillar, gazing out as if guarding the property. I like to think Vance was trying to make something beautiful out of the mundane. After all, artists are constantly in conversation with one another across time, trading ideas and influencing each other’s practice. He has certainly given new life to the possibilities of painting, embracing its ambiguities to create multiple meanings in the process.