Jug c. 1937

Editor: Here we have "Jug," created around 1937 by Charlotte Sperber, rendered in watercolor and drawing on paper. It gives me a simple, almost humble impression, like it’s celebrating everyday objects. What do you see in this piece? Curator: That's a good start. As a historian, I'm drawn to consider the function and cultural significance of such an object, especially within the context of 1930s America. What kind of societal role would this artwork, which depicts a utilitarian object, have served? Editor: Maybe to highlight a connection to simpler times, during a period of economic hardship? The jug seems… nostalgic? Curator: Precisely. And who was Sperber creating this for? Was she looking to influence a specific audience? Or maybe responding to or defying the artistic expectations placed upon women artists of her time? How would an art gallery shape our perception of 'folk art'? Editor: That's a good point. It changes things to consider where and why this would be shown. I never considered that maybe displaying everyday objects would have been an art form. Curator: Absolutely! Thinking about folk art, consider also what "folk" even means; how socio-economic factors define that category; and how power structures influence what is deemed "art" at all! I learned how deeply social context impacts art appreciation and influence. Editor: That's true; there are so many layers here when we look beyond the simple subject matter! This perspective highlights how history can reshape how we perceive everyday beauty and how social conditions affected what made it into a museum.