Bag 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is Vincent Murphy's "Bag," a watercolor and drawing piece dating from 1935 to 1942. It feels delicate, almost like a historical fashion plate. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: It's fascinating to see this particular item rendered in such a manner. Considering the period – mid-1930s to early 40s – this bag isn't just an accessory. It speaks to the cultural significance of personal adornment during economic hardship and a looming World War. What message does this "decorative art" communicate in the context of that period? Editor: I hadn't really thought of it in terms of the social context. I suppose it’s not just about aesthetics, but a form of… resistance or a coping mechanism? A means to maintain some semblance of beauty in daily life during hardship? Curator: Precisely. Items like this allowed individuals, women especially, to engage in small acts of self-expression. These were often acts regulated by complex codes. What happens if we look beyond its "beauty" and investigate how societal structures and access affected which groups had the capacity and luxury to partake? Editor: It feels almost subversive now that I’m thinking about it that way – using fashion and decorative arts as a quiet form of agency in a time of great political and social upheaval. I was drawn in by its charm, but there's a lot more going on beneath the surface! Curator: Indeed! We can view objects like this drawing not only as records of design, but also as barometers of the social and political climate they inhabited, inviting us to ask deeper questions about class, gender and power. Editor: This really sheds a different light on how I see this piece. Thanks for broadening my understanding! Curator: My pleasure! These artifacts hold many narratives if we just approach them with the right historical awareness and questions.