Pa. German Dish c. 1936

Curator: This watercolor drawing, titled "Pa. German Dish," was created around 1936 by Jessica Price. My initial reaction? A peculiar nostalgia. It's rendered in such flat, almost childish strokes, yet the geometric patterning holds a real gravity. Editor: It absolutely resonates with me. What I see are echoes of ancient craft and symbolic language embedded within a simple household object. I notice immediately how Price focuses less on photorealism and more on preserving the traditional motifs and aesthetic. Curator: Precisely. See the stylized tulips? They aren’t botanical studies but vessels, brimming with associations of fertility and beauty which often appear in Pennsylvania German folk art. And the star-like cross is visually striking and immediately meaningful, yes? Editor: Oh, undoubtedly. Stars recur as powerful talismans across so many cultures—the Babylonian Ishtar, for example, or the star representing guidance in the Christian nativity story. Their persistent visual message signifies protection and good fortune. Also, the artist’s choice to include both a top-down and a profile view allows the viewer to see fully, like an unfolded narrative. Curator: You're right, it is unfolding something. There’s an insistence to show the full form beyond mere observation that makes this artwork more than just descriptive, a study of pure artistic choices. But doesn't the artist's reverence of this form feel more complex than just the simplistic decorative qualities? Editor: I think you nailed it; complex is the word. I agree this feels like more than decorative art. Price captured cultural memory. The medium, watercolor, even lends itself to this gentle, nostalgic treatment, preserving the vibrancy of this painted dish almost as if yearning to be closer to tradition, rather than letting it fade away. Curator: The humble materials enhance the accessibility of the art, so its folk roots aren't undermined by too grand a vision. I keep coming back to that quiet, careful execution as so very moving. Editor: For me, reflecting on this piece highlights the enduring human desire to create meaningfulness in everyday life, reminding us how deeply symbols connect us to our past.