Trunk c. 1938

Editor: So, this drawing, "Trunk" by Charles Bowman, made around 1938... It's got this hyper-realistic quality, like an old advertisement or an inventory record. It makes me think about journeys and forgotten objects. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Immediately, I’m drawn to the object’s materiality and its representation through drawing. Consider the labor involved, both in constructing the physical trunk and in rendering its likeness on paper. The trunk itself speaks to industry, trade, and the transport of goods and personal belongings. Look at the brass tacks; think of how many were individually hammered in by a worker to make this item durable! Editor: I hadn’t thought of the repetitive nature of making those tacks. So, the drawing isn't just depicting a trunk; it's capturing all this labor, industry, and travel surrounding the object itself? Curator: Exactly. Bowman isn’t necessarily celebrating fine art but is documenting this commonplace yet complex manufactured good. Ask yourself: who owned this trunk? What was its purpose? This image invites us to examine the social context and material conditions surrounding the object's existence. Editor: So it’s less about the artistic skill, and more about the commentary on society and labor… The inclusion of the trade card above the trunk further alludes to those networks of manufacturing and advertisement of industrial products in society? Curator: Precisely. Bowman presents this material culture and associated industry for consideration and examination through a representational drawing. Editor: I see it so differently now. Thanks! What I originally saw as an innocent, detailed portrait becomes a rich story of American industry and consumerism of those days. Curator: And that’s the power of engaging with art through a materialist lens! We're forced to consider the making and marketing involved, moving past mere aesthetic appreciation.