The Woodpile

Benton had the ability to capture the effects of all seasons as well as times of day through his art, even when essentially working in black and white. Here the bare, light-colored paper conveys the heavy snow that blankets this farm, while black ink suggests the darkened sky under which a man, bundled against the freezing temperatures, splits wood to feed the stove that will warm him through the night. The Woodpile, like so much of Benton’s art, evokes a narrative. The inclusion of just the right details invites the viewer to continue the story.