Pa. German Plate 1937

Editor: Here we have Eugene Shellady's "Pa. German Plate" from 1937, a watercolor and colored pencil rendering. It feels both rustic and delicate. How should we approach analyzing this piece? Curator: Let's consider the context of Pennsylvania German folk art. These weren’t created in a vacuum. Think about the specific materials they used and how they sourced them. What kind of labor went into making actual plates like this? Editor: So you're saying to consider the social and economic factors behind these decorative arts. It makes me wonder where the artist, Shellady, fits into the production of such objects. Is he making it for personal use, or for commercial purposes? Curator: Precisely! And who is consuming these images or actual plates? Understanding the production and consumption helps break down the artificial hierarchy between fine art and what's traditionally considered craft. How does the very act of depicting this object in watercolor, elevate or change our understanding of it as compared to an actual ceramic plate? Editor: Interesting! Focusing on production challenges my own assumptions about what we consider "art." I hadn’t thought of the labor involved, both in the depicted object and Shellady's work. I'm curious now, how typical watercolor illustrations factored into ceramic making at the time. Curator: Exactly! What was the relationship between these drawn examples and their function within the wider decorative-arts ecosystem? Consider the circulation of these kinds of images and who controls their meanings? Editor: This definitely gives me a fresh perspective! Thank you for challenging me to think beyond just the aesthetic qualities. It’s exciting to see the historical process embedded within what initially looked like just a pretty picture. Curator: My pleasure. Recognizing the processes makes art more inclusive.