Cock Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Flora Merchant made this 'Cock Weather Vane' drawing at some unknown date with dimensions of 36.7 x 29.4 cm. I can imagine Flora, with her quill and ink, carefully rendering the details of this sculptural form. It's like she's trying to capture not just the shape but also the texture, the history embedded in the object. It must have been slow and deliberate, a conversation between her eye, her hand, and the weather-beaten rooster. The monochrome palette feels restrained and respectful, letting the form speak for itself. Maybe she was thinking about how this object had weathered countless storms, how it had turned and twisted with the wind, always pointing towards an uncertain future. She probably thought about the folk art tradition of the weather vane, the way these objects were both functional and symbolic, connecting people to the rhythms of nature. Artists are always referencing each other, and their cultural heritage: it's a constant exchange of ideas. Ultimately, this drawing is a celebration of the everyday, a reminder that even the most humble objects can hold beauty, history, and meaning.