Clapper 1935 - 1942

Geoffrey Holt made this watercolor called “Clapper” sometime in the twentieth century. The painting depicts a simple wooden percussion instrument, the kind of folk object that would have been common across many cultures. What’s interesting here is the very act of depicting it. Why would an artist choose to represent something so everyday? Holt was active at a time when artists and designers were interested in elevating vernacular objects. Thinkers in the Arts and Crafts movement wanted to recognize the aesthetic value and social importance of craft work. This aestheticization of the utilitarian was part of a broader trend towards celebrating indigenous traditions against the perceived alienation of modern life. To understand this work fully, we’d need to consider the cultural context in which Holt was working. Researching the Arts and Crafts movement and the wider interest in folk art would help us understand the values that Holt’s image embodies. By doing so, we might understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.