Pals

John William Winkler

Two draft horses pull a covered wagon in John William Winkler’s etching “Pals”. Wrought in his signature, nearly Impressionist style, Winkler employs sketch-like linework within the bounds of a small plate to capture the working horses in their element as they haul goods side by side.

As the title suggests, these patient and sturdy animals could easily be imagined as good friends - pals - getting through the working day together. Understated yet powerful in the use of high contrast rather than complex detail to create the desired visual impact, Winkler’s knack for portraying the briefest of everyday moments in rural and urban landscapes shines in this simple, sweet composition.