Cattle Brand c. 1936

J. Henry Marley made this striking ‘Cattle Brand’ at an unknown date, using ink on paper. Just imagine Marley's hand moving decisively across the page, laying down these bold black lines! It's almost like looking at a blueprint, but for cows! I wonder if Marley was a rancher himself, or maybe he was just fascinated by the visual language of the Wild West? You know, these simple shapes, a circle, a cross, a hook – they carry so much meaning, and that's what I love about this piece. It distills the whole idea of ownership and identity down to these essential forms. It reminds me a little of some of the early minimalist sculptures, but with a cowboy twist. Artists are always riffing off each other, whether they know it or not. And this drawing? Well, it's got that same kind of directness and clarity. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.