Fish Weather Vane c. 1938

Albert Ryder made this "Fish Weather Vane" at an unknown date using watercolor and graphite on paper. Look closely and you'll see how Ryder really commits to the process, building up layers and textures. It's like he's thinking through the act of painting itself. Ryder really lets the materials do their thing. The watercolor is thin, almost transparent, allowing the graphite beneath to peek through and add subtle depth. And see the texture? You can almost feel the grain of the wood. I love how Ryder captures the simple geometry of the fish form, its elongated shape, the playful carving along the top. It's so clearly rendered yet so strange in its simplicity. The small fin is delicately shaded, hinting at movement and direction. I think of the work of Marsden Hartley, both artists seem interested in similar American vernacular subjects. But while Hartley’s painting has a graphic, illustrative edge, Ryder’s work is full of quiet contemplation. It reminds us that art is often about embracing ambiguity, leaving space for viewers to bring their own experiences and interpretations to the table.