Lumberman's First Aid Kit c. 1942

George Roehl made this image of a Lumberman's First Aid Kit with watercolor on paper. The warm, earthy palette is inviting, almost like a cozy cabin in the woods. The artist's touch is visible, the paint thinly applied, allowing the paper's texture to peek through and create a sense of depth. The brushstrokes around the edges are gentle, defining the form without harsh lines. Notice the subtle variations in the red, hinting at the wood grain beneath. The metal bands around the kit are rendered with care, the rivets casting tiny shadows that add dimension. It makes me think of artists like Marsden Hartley who saw the inherent beauty in American folk objects and wanted to capture their rugged charm. This piece feels like an ode to self-sufficiency and the simple tools of survival. Like all good art, it’s about more than just what’s depicted. It's about how we see and value the world around us.