Man's Shoe c. 1936

Curator: Alright, let's turn our attention to "Man's Shoe," a drawing from around 1936 by Jessie M. Benge. Editor: Oh, my first thought? Utilitarian chic. The paper looks aged, which lends an interesting sense of history to the, shall we say, rather ordinary subject matter. Curator: Benge employed light pencil work on a toned paper, opting for a style that leans towards realism. There's a precision to the lines, even though it has that casual sketchbook feel, doesn't it? Editor: Precisely. It feels like we're looking at the labor, the slow, deliberate act of depicting something worn and, dare I say, mundane. Footwear is fascinating. We buy into aspirational ideas for footwear and how it enables work and social activities but how many consider their origins or that worker who assembles a pair of sneakers? Curator: And those extra views floating above... Almost feels like a tailor's guide. Did she perhaps have intentions of crafting something from this drawing? There's a detached practicality. I wonder about the wearer of such a shoe. Comfortable, but formal, for a very middle class job, like a low level banker in a dusty town, nothing that gets him excited! Editor: Well, given the probable time period, you might be closer than you think in understanding the significance of shoe production! This rendering may capture not just the design but reflect the impact of industrial practices on something as intimate as a shoe. Curator: Intimate? I'm surprised! It seems detached! Almost clinical. The light pencil strokes soften the angles in some ways but give more form to its worn sections of the design. Editor: Yes, precisely, and this drawing now offers insights into both individual creativity and mass production in ways the maker couldn't forsee. Curator: And yet it also hints at larger stories embedded in a simple piece of footwear, beyond mass production, it speaks to an era. It captures a particular form from that time. Editor: Exactly. Everyday objects contain a universe of context when you look at them from all angles, so to speak. It invites contemplation and reflection on human impact and social order! Curator: And who knew that that could start with a man’s shoe? A small portal. Editor: To grand ideas contained within ordinary items! A portal indeed!