Tomahawk c. 1939

George Rhone made this image of a tomahawk, most likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, with a tight and descriptive approach that reminds me of technical drawing. What grabs me most is the way the artist renders the textures of the tomahawk. The blade has a smooth, almost metallic sheen, while the handle seems wrapped with something rougher. Look at the details – the small geometric patterns on the head, the way they catch light. It's like the artist is carefully documenting every aspect of this object. What does it mean to hold a tomahawk? Is the artist looking at the object as a symbol of power? Or is it an aesthetic object, something beautiful in its design? This piece reminds me a bit of the work of Charles Sheeler, especially his precisionist paintings. Both artists share a similar interest in depicting objects with clarity and precision. But where Sheeler often focused on industrial subjects, Rhone turns his attention to something more organic.