Wooden Noggin c. 1941

Wilbur M Rice created this artwork, Wooden Noggin, using watercolor and graphite on paper. The artwork presents a meticulously rendered wooden vessel set against a muted background, immediately drawing our attention to its form and texture. The vertical lines of the wood staves create a sense of structured solidity, contrasted by the horizontal bands which cinche the barrel. Rice’s careful brushstrokes capture the varying tones and grains of the wood, enhancing the three-dimensional presence of the noggin. The subtle gradations of light and shadow further articulate its shape, suggesting a deep understanding of form and materiality. The stark simplicity reduces the object to its most essential components: line, form, and texture which invites contemplation on the intersection of everyday objects and aesthetic representation. This focus highlights the inherent beauty in utilitarian design.