Horse Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Curator: The work before us is a pencil drawing titled "Horse Weather Vane," created by Mildred E. Bent sometime between 1935 and 1942. Editor: It has a curious, almost melancholic quality. The restrained palette emphasizes the simplicity of the form, while the horse's poised stance suggests latent power. Curator: Bent’s rendering engages directly with folk traditions and a distinctly American ethos. Consider the symbolic resonance of the horse in the American narrative – often linked to freedom, labor, and westward expansion. The weather vane form also reminds us of agrarian labor practices and reliance on natural forces. Editor: Absolutely. The horse has been a steadfast symbol throughout history. This particular rendering also triggers deeply ingrained visual memory. Think of Paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux and Chauvet or classical depictions of equestrian power. There's a deliberate echo here. It speaks of constancy amidst changing societal conditions. Curator: I think, further, the drawing prompts a needed reconsideration of gender and labor roles. The relative anonymity of its creator forces questions regarding why artwork depicting utilitarian items produced primarily by men, rendered by women, has not been critically assessed in line with work done by better known artists of the time. Editor: A fruitful area for consideration, without a doubt. And thinking about the weather vane as symbol, it is also an indication of environmental precarity. Given the impending climate crisis, this understated pencil drawing gains greater poignancy, no? Curator: I agree, its seemingly simple rendering can prompt a wider, deeper range of needed cultural investigation. Editor: I'll walk away contemplating the interconnectedness between historical iconography and ecological realities.