Caster Bottle c. 1936

Editor: This watercolor and charcoal drawing is called "Caster Bottle," made around 1936 by Ralph Atkinson. The precision and detail in rendering the glass are quite striking. It seems like a simple object, yet it's elevated to a subject worthy of careful artistic attention. What do you make of this artwork? Curator: What I notice first is the deliberate focus on a mass-produced, functional object. The "Caster Bottle," a common item for holding condiments, is depicted through close observation of its material qualities. Atkinson's drawing compels us to consider the means of production of this glass object, the labour involved, and the social context of its use. Do you think its status as a drawing and not a functional item changes its value, even though it represents something mass-produced? Editor: Definitely. Presenting a commonplace object as art transforms its significance. The artistry in capturing light and form asks us to pause and truly *see* the bottle, beyond its utilitarian function. What do you mean by 'labour involved'? Curator: Precisely. Glassblowing in the 1930s, even with developing mechanization, would still require considerable skill and labour. Think of the shaping, the molding, the careful execution of details, perhaps even etching we might see at the top. All this inherent labour then ends up in someone’s kitchen. Atkinson draws attention to these hidden histories by re-presenting the bottle as a piece of 'art'. The image, though skillfully rendered, points back to the industrial production line and questions divisions of value between the craft that went into creating the bottle and its fine art depiction. It brings attention to those material and cultural conditions of production, doesn't it? Editor: It does! It really makes you rethink what we consider "art" and what we overlook as everyday objects shaped by similar forces of production and labor. Curator: Indeed. Looking closely, the work reminds us that even mundane items carry a story about materiality and the system of consumption we participate in.