Whirligig

Joseph Stonefield

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a wooden sculpture figure with elongated arms holding flat paddles. The figure is depicted in a detailed manner, showing its carved features such as a helmet or cap, a tunic-like garment with a flared lower edge, and articulated joints at the shoulders and elbows. The paddles extend from the hands. The background is plain, emphasizing the figure itself. The drawing captures the primitive and somewhat mechanical aesthetic of the sculpture, with precise shading that brings out the texture of the wood.