Plaque c. 1940

Here's a cedar plaque stained and varnished by Virgil A. Liberto in 1885. I wonder how he felt, carefully carving and staining that wood? Look at that eagle—it’s not just a symbol, right? It’s a feeling, a kind of striving. The texture looks smooth, but I bet you can feel the tiny marks of the carving tools if you get up close. See how the light catches on the varnish? It gives the eagle a sort of glow, like it’s about to take flight. It reminds me a little of some folk art I've seen, where artists use simple materials and forms to express something deep and personal. I bet Liberto was thinking about freedom when he made this. Or maybe he just liked eagles. Artists are always borrowing, riffing, and remixing each other, right? Whether it’s wood or paint, we’re all just trying to make sense of the world, one mark at a time.