Cobbler's Bench c. 1938

Leonard Battee created this watercolor work entitled "Cobbler's Bench" at an unknown date. The image depicts a wooden cobbler's bench, a utilitarian object used in the craft of shoemaking. Considered historically, this image invites contemplation on shifting labor practices and the disappearance of artisanal trades in the face of industrialization. In representing this handcrafted object, Battee draws attention to the value of skilled labor and the cultural significance of traditional crafts that are disappearing from everyday life. We might consider this work as part of a broader cultural interest in preserving and documenting material culture. For example, in the United States, the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression employed artists to document and celebrate American folk traditions and material culture. As art historians, we can continue to research the cultural and historical context to gain a deeper understanding of its significance. By examining the social conditions that shape artistic production, we can appreciate how it reflects and comments on its own time.