Eagle Figurehead 1935 - 1942

This "Eagle Figurehead" was made by F.W. Powell, and it really grabs you with the subtle palette that’s used to construct the eagle’s form. Powell’s choice of colour helps create a sense of depth and texture, turning a simple drawing into something that almost feels like you could reach out and touch it. Look closer, and you'll see how Powell works with watercolour, layering thin washes to build up the color and shading. The texture of the paper becomes part of the artwork, giving the eagle's feathers a soft, almost downy quality. Notice how the artist uses precise strokes to define each feather, creating a sense of movement and vitality, as if the eagle could take flight at any moment. The beak is slightly open, and you can almost hear the eagle’s call, a symbol of freedom and strength. This piece makes me think of some of the graphic art of someone like Alex Katz, who has a knack for capturing the essence of a subject with just a few well-placed lines and colours. In the end, Powell's work reminds us that art is not just about representation, it’s about feeling.