Cow Weather Vane c. 1939

This ‘Cow Weather Vane’ was made by Philip Johnson, its date is unknown, and it appears to be made with watercolor and graphite. There’s a real simplicity here, but also a strange sophistication in its color. It’s brown, but it’s not just brown, it's got this kind of rusted metal feeling that makes you think about time and the outdoors. Looking closely, there’s so much texture, almost like you could touch the cow and feel its weathered surface. And it’s so flat, a silhouette, but the artist manages to give it weight. I find myself wondering if Johnson was looking at folk art, maybe something from the 19th century. There’s a directness that reminds me of those artists who didn’t fuss too much, just got right to the point.