Brooch c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Tulita Westfall's watercolor drawing, "Brooch," created around 1937. There's a stark elegance to it, even in its simplicity. The golden filigree makes me think of Byzantine jewelry. What story do you think this work is telling? Curator: To me, this drawing is whispering about the intersection of high design and personal adornment. Think about it – the geometric precision rendered in delicate watercolor! There's this dance between a cold, calculated plan and the warm, human touch. It’s almost a longing for a connection. Do you see the way Westfall includes those extra side views, like little secrets? Editor: I do! It's almost like she's saying, "Look closer, there's more to this than meets the eye." But does it speak to the social context of the time, perhaps a yearning for luxury during the Depression? Curator: Exactly! There's an undeniable tension – a desire for beauty, a need for escape, all tempered by the economic realities of the era. But more than that, maybe it’s about dreaming, pure imagination taking tangible shape on paper, daring us to dream along with it. What kind of woman do you picture wearing this imagined treasure? Editor: Someone bold and confident, perhaps an artist herself. It's fascinating how a simple drawing can evoke such a rich tapestry of ideas. I appreciate how you've linked Westfall’s imagined treasure with the social conditions and longing for escape during the Depression era. Curator: It all speaks to a truth: Art, no matter the medium, is always in conversation with its world. It invites us into that conversation.