Weather Vane c. 1939

Bernard Westmacott drew this weather vane, sometime in the 20th century, with what looks like graphite on paper. It's a drawing about a functional object. You know, the kind of thing you see spinning on top of a barn. But it's also a study in form and texture. Look at how Westmacott uses all these tiny marks to define the bird's feathers. Some areas are dense and dark, while others are light and airy. It's like he's thinking about the essence of the rooster as a marker of a certain kind of place, perhaps a farm. I love the way the tail feathers are suggested with these simple curved lines. It is both abstract and descriptive. It reminds me a bit of the early work of Giacometti in its simplicity, and dedication to capturing the essence of a subject. It's like he's saying, "Here's the feeling of a weather vane, spinning in the wind." It is a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.