Ox Cart 1935 - 1942

Wilbur M Rice made this 'Ox Cart' with watercolor on paper. The palette here is so restrained, almost monochromatic, it’s like he's feeling out the structure of this cart, the bones of it. Look how the washes of color build up the form. The texture of the wood is evoked with such subtlety. The tone is almost grey but on closer viewing, there are hints of blue, brown, and even green, capturing the weathered surface, the wear and tear. I can almost smell the wood. See how the artist allows the paper to show through, giving the work an airy, unfinished feel. The whole thing is just quietly beautiful. The precision reminds me of technical drawings but there’s a warmth, a human touch, that elevates it. It reminds me of the work of Charles Sheeler, with his sharp focus on American industry and architecture, but there's an added vulnerability here. This piece embraces ambiguity and multiple interpretations; it's more of a quiet song than a rigid statement.