America-R.F.D. c. 1938

Coreen Mary Spellman created this lithograph, “America-R.F.D.,” using a range of delicate gray tones. The composition centers on a rural roadside scene, dominated by a cluster of mailboxes, poised atop rough-hewn wooden supports. The artist’s strategic use of line and shading builds a textural depth that speaks to the American landscape. Notice how the mailboxes are rendered with crisp lines which contrast against the soft, smudged charcoal of the sky. The telegraph poles and barbed wire fence recede into the distance, constructing space and depth within the image, whilst two old cars bookend the composition, anchoring the scene in a specific time. Spellman masterfully employs chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes the contrast between light and dark. This not only highlights the formal qualities of the scene but also evokes a somber mood, transforming a simple rural landscape into a reflection on the era's social conditions. Ultimately, Spellman's artwork serves as a semiotic marker, inviting reflection on the cultural values of the time.