Peacock Stern Carving 1935 - 1942

John Davis made this Peacock Stern Carving, but we don’t know exactly when or with what. The image shows a stern carving; a peacock, foliage, and flowers are raised in high relief from a ground, as if emerging from a flat surface. I wonder what it was like for Davis to carefully carve each petal and feather. Was there a sense of pride in creating something so beautiful? Or maybe it was more about the process, the rhythm of the chisel against the wood. The contrast between the smooth background and the raised elements creates a play of light and shadow, adding depth and texture to the carving. It's almost as if the peacock is stepping out of the frame, inviting us to enter its world. It reminds me of other artists who work with wood, like Martin Puryear, each of them transforming a solid material into something delicate and expressive. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about what we see, but also about the stories we tell ourselves about what we see.