Eagle c. 1938

Jane Iverson made this "Eagle" with watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper. The colors are muted, almost like looking at something through a sepia-toned lens, and it's got this wonderful symmetry. It’s as if you could fold it in half. The eagle, with its wings outstretched, is so carefully rendered, and the shield it’s guarding has these really precise stripes. What strikes me about this piece is the relationship between control and freedom. The eagle itself is quite realistic, especially compared to the shield, which seems to float against the eagle's chest. The texture comes from the layering of different media - you can see the graphite lines under the watercolor washes, which gives it a kind of depth and tactility. Take a look at how the feathers are individually marked, each one considered. The way each feather is done makes it look like the eagle is about to take off. This piece feels related to the work of Joseph E. Yoakum, in that it presents a somewhat naive, yet compelling vision. It embraces ambiguity, so let's just enjoy the dance between the real and the imagined.