Pitcher c. 1938

Curator: This drawing, titled "Pitcher," was created around 1938 by Marie Mitchell, employing both watercolor and pencil. Its clean lines and subtle color washes immediately convey a sense of delicate functionality. Editor: It has a very calming effect, almost clinical in its clarity. You immediately notice the craft of glassmaking, the twist in the body feels active against the overall stasis. I'm drawn to how the artist captured the light passing through glass, quite cleverly. Curator: I'm drawn to that contrast you mentioned. It places a traditional domestic object in a new framework. Consider the labor involved in both its creation and use in a society wrestling with rapid industrialization. This pitcher perhaps served as a grounding point, a symbol of simpler times or a carefully curated image of them during an era of profound social and political change. Editor: Yes, and how the piece has a dialogue about artistic status and manual work. Watercolor and pencil elevate a functional form—traditionally made by the craft of glassblowing and used, no doubt, in more workaday situations. Curator: Exactly. It almost invites a commentary on the artistic representation of everyday labor, hinting at issues of gendered labor if we also examine the identity of the artist herself and think about its potential context, domestic life in the 1930s. The object gains resonance within the conversations around women’s work being viewed as simply utilitarian and/or decorative at that time. Editor: And the simplicity of the technique really allows us to concentrate on the form of the pitcher and what is it supposed to carry, emphasizing use and social context around table etiquette and functionality and daily practice in households. Curator: Analyzing it in this way really shows how everyday objects and representations reflect cultural, gender, and historical narratives that intertwine and tell layered stories. Editor: For me, thinking about what glass represents regarding luxury and functionality at the time in society really elevates the artistic intent that comes forward to be revealed when this image is seen at a museum space and that adds a new layer of significance for the artist.