Hitching Post 1935 - 1942

David Willoughby painted this Hitching Post, sometime after 1855, with a real attention to color and form. He wasn't messing around, this painting feels so intentional, like every stroke was placed with purpose. Check out the texture on that red jacket. The paint is thin, but he's built up layers to give it that incredible shine. It's like he's sculpting with light, each little detail catching your eye. And those ochre pants, almost glowing against the muted background. The man is standing on what looks like a concrete block, he is holding a hoop, like an offer of... friendship? I think about someone like Fairfield Porter, also interested in light and form, but Willoughby has this folksy charm, this directness that I find so appealing. It's not about perfection, it's about the joy of painting. For me, this piece is more of a question than an answer, it's an open door into a whole world of possibilities.