Eagle Woodcarving c. 1939

Willard Hazen made this wood carving of an eagle, we don't know exactly when or where, but it’s been carefully painted in watercolor. You can see the process of carving in the marks of the chisel, and the way the paint is applied so thinly and evenly, feels very thoughtful. The light brown of the feathers contrasts with the bright yellow of the beak, and that red inner beak really pops. The detail in each feather shows such control and precision, yet it still feels incredibly handmade. Look closely and you can almost imagine the artist’s hand moving across the wood, shaping each curve and contour. The feathers radiate out like rays of light and there is a raw element where the figure hasn't been fully separated from its rectangular wooden support. I am reminded of some of the woodcuts by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, but there is also a deeply American sensibility in this eagle. It's art that comes from making something, and the spirit of the materials is almost as important as the final image.