Cookie Jar with Cover c. 1938

Curator: Here we have Nicholas Amantea’s "Cookie Jar with Cover," created around 1938. It appears to be executed with watercolors, ink, and possibly pastel on paper. What's your first take? Editor: Well, immediately I’m getting a cozy, almost nostalgic vibe. The muted colors give it a wonderfully soft feel. It's as if this jar held all the sweetness of childhood itself. Curator: I think that perception of warmth aligns with the general resurgence of interest in folk art and domestic craft during that period, particularly within the context of the Great Depression. There was a palpable desire to reconnect with simpler times. Editor: Absolutely! It reminds me of something my grandmother would have had in her kitchen, overflowing with treats. There is a charm and naivete that I truly appreciate about it. Does it connect with you in any particular way? Curator: I appreciate how the floral design, while decorative, also suggests the ways in which industrial manufacturers often borrowed from earlier traditions, almost legitimizing themselves through historical or folk connections. This sort of artwork helped domesticate industrial products by softening their edges and aligning them with a sense of handmade quality. Editor: Right, that almost idealized connection between industry and tradition! Also, let’s be honest, who doesn't love a good cookie jar? It represents not just food, but sharing, comfort. Curator: I think it also is interesting that the jar is actually empty, or appears to be in the illustration. It presents an anticipation. It can represent many things because the signifier, the jar, is absent its meaning. It can mean many things because it actually contains nothing! Editor: Hah! Nicely said. Maybe it’s an illustration of potential. Perhaps the best cookies are yet to come. Well, I am feeling hopeful, now and that wasn't the case before we began. Curator: It is fascinating to view art through its social implications and intended messages. Editor: Well, and seeing its message shifting even now – fascinating is definitely one word for it. Let's go grab those cookies? Curator: Sounds like a great way to test our theories!