Table c. 1937

Editor: So, this is "Table," a watercolor drawing made around 1937 by Harry Eisman. It feels… unassuming. Almost stark in its simplicity. What can we make of a solitary table rendered so plainly? Curator: Precisely! Its very plainness demands consideration. This work falls within a period of great social upheaval. How does focusing on a single domestic object comment on the social climate? Editor: I guess, in a time of economic hardship, perhaps celebrating simple, functional items? Or is it offering an escape into the quiet, stable world of the home? Curator: Both valid readings! Eisman’s choice to depict a simple table could reflect a desire for stability amid uncertainty. But consider also the institutional forces at play: How were artists employed, supported, and directed during the Depression? Is this piece part of a larger program? Is this a proposed design for mass production? Editor: That shifts things. It becomes less about personal expression and more about… design and practicality under specific social pressures? Curator: Exactly! Eisman perhaps saw himself as a public servant, using his art to contribute to the rebuilding efforts. The image of a well-designed, affordable table held social and political significance. Editor: I hadn't considered the WPA angle. Viewing art as public service completely changes the conversation! I initially just saw a table. Curator: And now? Editor: Now, I see a table, but also a story about art’s role in shaping society, even in something seemingly as simple as a table design. Curator: Precisely the point. Every image, every object participates in broader narratives.