Oxen Yoke c. 1937

Earl Butlin's "Oxen Yoke" (c. 1937) depicts a traditional farming tool, emphasizing the connection between humans and animals in rural life. The detailed watercolor captures the worn, rustic quality of the wooden yoke, its texture rendered with precision. The metal rings and straps add a touch of industrialism, highlighting the integration of technology into farming practices. The artwork's simple composition and focus on an everyday object offer a glimpse into the world of agricultural labor and its importance in early 20th-century American life.