The leather carving is a remarkable example of the artist’s skill and storytelling. The image portrays him as a young boy, struggling to read a book. Using a variety of tools, he intricately carves textures into the leather—the fine details of his hair, the grain of the wooden floorboards, and the threads of his shirt. Behind him stands a wood stove, which he was responsible for keeping lit.

Winfred spent most days working in the cotton fields to help support his family, leaving him little opportunity to learn to read alongside his peers. Aware of his struggles, his teacher, Miss Prather, assigned him the task of fetching wood for the fire, but during his free moments, she encouraged him to draw.

By carving words into the leather—describing his childhood struggles with illiteracy—Winfred powerfully reflects on his perseverance. Though he has incorporated inscriptions into past works, this piece is one of the rare instances where his personal story dominates the composition, with text occupying nearly half the surface.

In this self-portrait, the artist meticulously carved the following message:

MY NAME IS WINFRED REMBERT. I AM TWELVE YEARS OLD. I AM LOOKING IN THIS BOOK BUT I CAN'T READ IT. I DON'T GO TO SCHOOL BUT TWO OR THREE DAYS A WEEK. I HAVE TO WORK IN THE FIELDS. THE PLANTATION TOLD MAMA THAT I'D BE BETTER OFF LEARNING HOW TO PICK COTTON AND PLOW THE MULE. MY SCHOOL TEACHER TOLD ME THAT I WA TOO FAR BEHINE IN CLASS SO SHE GAVE THE WOOD BOY KEEP THE CLASS WARM.

The American Art Fair 2025