Garnet Earring c. 1936

Editor: We’re looking at Edward White’s watercolor drawing, "Garnet Earring," from about 1936. It's so delicate and precise. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: It's interesting to consider this seemingly simple drawing within its historical context. Think about the 1930s - a time of economic hardship, yet also burgeoning glamour in Hollywood. Jewelry becomes a symbol, doesn't it? A marker of status, but also of identity, aspiration. How might this earring speak to those social anxieties and desires? Editor: So, not just an earring, but an object loaded with meaning? I hadn’t considered the social context of jewelry then. Curator: Exactly. And watercolor itself - often associated with delicacy and the domestic. Was this meant as a study for a larger piece? Or is its intimacy the point? The garnet itself would traditionally be associated with protection and healing, even female sexuality, though these are fluid significations depending on context. Does the color palette suggest anything to you? Editor: The deep reds and golds are really striking. Perhaps a statement of richness amidst economic hardship, as you mentioned? Curator: Perhaps, or even a sense of romanticism, or defiance in the face of societal difficulties. This close view might signal a connection to personal adornment, or intimate presentation, even. Why represent one earring on an otherwise bare page? Editor: It does seem… isolated. But understanding it in the context of its time makes me look at it in a completely new way. Thanks! Curator: It's crucial to understand these objects aren't created in a vacuum, that jewelry isn't only beautiful decoration but is deeply ingrained with gender, social and economic meaning!