Conestoga Wagon Jack 1935 - 1942

Edward Loper made this painting of a Conestoga Wagon Jack in subtle watercolors. Look closely, and you’ll see the browns and grays feel very real. I wonder, did he have the wagon jack right there in front of him? I imagine Loper squinting, carefully mixing those muted tones to capture the way the light hits the wood and metal. There’s a patient observation in the way the wood grain is rendered, with a real attention to detail. It's like he's thinking about the history held within this jack. The painting is an intriguing blend of abstraction and representation, echoing the visual language of folk art. The textures feel almost palpable. The brushwork is tight, and the attention to detail is striking. It makes me wonder about what we choose to paint, and how we see the world around us.