Weather Vane c. 1937

Herman Bader made this drawing of a weather vane, with a scale in inches at the bottom, using graphite on paper. The surface is alive with texture! Little specks of graphite create a mottled grey tone. It's so subtle, like the metal itself is breathing. Look at how Bader uses this technique to define the form, the way the light seems to catch the curve of the rooster’s tail. It's like he's not just drawing an object, but capturing the way light and weather interact with it. That little eye, just a simple hole, gives the whole piece a curious sort of life. It reminds me of some of those early American portraits where the eyes follow you around the room. This drawing reminds me a little of Charles Sheeler, that precisionist clarity, but with a folksy warmth. Ultimately, it's not about perfect representation, but about the feeling of a handmade object exposed to the elements.