Rosette 1938

Editor: This drawing, "Rosette" by Harvey Thoss, dates back to 1938. The realism in the shading makes it feel quite tangible. What historical perspectives can you offer on this piece? Curator: Well, considering it's from 1938, right before World War II truly ramped up, and its precise rendering points to industrial design. How might it reflect a cultural emphasis on order and function during that period? What does it reveal, in your mind, about public tastes in art in pre-war America? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t thought of it as potentially referencing industrial design. Given that it is a drawing of what seems to be a ceiling fixture cover, how did artistic representation and mass-produced objects intersect at the time? Was there a perceived hierarchy? Curator: Precisely. There often was! The "Rosette," straddles fine art and utilitarian design. Were drawings like these commonly displayed in public spaces? If so, what societal function might this artwork, a relatively commonplace object, be intended to serve, do you think? Editor: Hmm, perhaps they served an educational function? The drawing helps to legitimize it, by association? So, considering your area of expertise, how did displaying such representational drawing impact public understanding and the valuation of designed objects at the time? Curator: Good question. Exhibitions of such detailed drawings likely helped elevate the status of industrial design and the skills of draftsmen, perhaps reflecting a broader appreciation for functionality amidst socio-economic pressures, like the Great Depression still fresh in everyone’s mind, and then looming war. Editor: So much to consider about seemingly simple image! I’m definitely thinking differently about it now. Curator: And that's the beauty of historical context—it reveals how art and design are embedded within broader societal frameworks.