The Pearl 1913

Curator: So, here we have Lilla Cabot Perry’s "The Pearl" from 1913. It’s an oil painting, depicting a woman holding what appears to be a pearl. Editor: Yes, the composition is really striking! The simplicity, and how the light catches her gown… What do you see in this piece? Curator: I am most drawn to the context of its production, especially the materiality and the social. Think about the actual production of oil paints in the early 20th century and how industrial processes influenced what colors, pigments, and textures Perry was able to access. What impact might industrial capitalism and new chemical processes have had on Perry’s artistic practice? Editor: So, instead of just focusing on the beauty, you are thinking about the conditions that made the artwork possible? Curator: Precisely. It's not merely about admiring the aesthetic representation but digging into the social and economic landscape in which Perry and other artists were operating. The very “pearl” of the title—how are we to interpret this, materially? How does this relate to elite femininity and access to global trade routes that provide these pearls? And even her dress; silk was a global commodity. It changes the narrative when you consider the pearl wasn’t only a sign of wealth, but it was produced through intensive labor practices in the South Seas. Editor: I never thought about it that way! So we can learn about global economics through a seemingly simple portrait? Curator: Exactly! This painting, therefore, can challenge traditional boundaries by encouraging dialogue about high art and craft while considering production and consumption. Editor: That gives me a completely different perspective. Thanks for shedding light on that. I’ll be thinking about labor conditions differently going forward. Curator: Wonderful. It is important to look at the artwork not as just a final product but also at the web of circumstances that went into its production.