Conestoga Tool Box c. 1939

Samuel W. Ford made this *Conestoga Tool Box* with watercolor and graphite, freezing a moment in time. Look at the way Ford built up layers of transparent washes, creating depth and texture on a flat surface; like alchemy, turning humble materials into something precious. The grain of the wood is suggested through delicate lines, and a range of browns, grays, and hints of green; you can almost smell the wood and feel its rough surface. I am drawn to the ornate ironwork, its curlicues and sharp edges rendered with such precision. The way the light catches the metal, suggesting both its strength and vulnerability to rust, feels like a metaphor for life. This piece reminds me of the meticulous drawings of Hilla and Bernd Becher, who documented industrial structures with such care. Like the Bechers, Ford elevates an everyday object to something iconic. It invites us to appreciate the beauty and history embedded in the things we often overlook.