Doll: "Donald" c. 1938

Curator: My initial feeling? One of poised innocence—and a certain amount of controlled exuberance—caught forever. Editor: It is a captivating piece indeed. This work is a miniature watercolor drawing by Eugene Croe, dating back to about 1938. Its title is simply "Doll: 'Donald'." Curator: Donald! He certainly looks like a carefully handled doll. It has this kind of soft rendering, almost… velvety. I wonder what stories Croe wanted to tell with this carefully staged image. Editor: Considering it was created during the late 1930s, at the close of the Harlem Renaissance, a period marked by both artistic effervescence and deepening racial segregation, I immediately wonder about the identity and positionality of this "doll." Children and dolls as subject matter can provide interesting insight into social history. Who was this child meant to be? And for whom? Curator: Interesting point. Look at his stance; his arms held out. Perhaps waiting to be picked up or is this a depiction of a display? And that outfit! Very dapper—almost consciously curated. Editor: The "dapper" aesthetic immediately points to class and aspiration. Brown wool, buttons—the image is both meticulous and conservative in its choices. We might ask, who does childhood, and innocence, become coded along lines of race, class, and gender here? It may well also offer insight into consumption habits and cultural ideals of that specific era. Curator: It does present such a clean narrative. Thinking of dolls, as more than mere toys but stand-ins or effigies...is this Donald in fancy dress? He seems suspended—almost longing—and not necessarily joyful. Editor: And let's not dismiss the very real fact that many wealthy families—regardless of race—commissioned paintings, portraits and drawings of their children in that period. Curator: The style does give off academic-art vibes. Almost like he’s been plucked out of a storybook, rather than real life. Editor: These are excellent observations! It leaves one thinking about the complexities inherent in something that appears at first glance as charming or innocent. Curator: Absolutely. There is so much richness lurking under its surface that challenges us to reflect beyond the pretty veneer. Editor: Indeed! Thank you for that insight!