Dentist's Operating Room 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is "Dentist's Operating Room," a drawing by Perkins Harnly, created sometime between 1935 and 1942. It's quite striking. There is a rather frightening archaic quality to the scene depicted that both repels and intrigues me. What's your take on it? Curator: Frightening, yes, and intriguing is spot on! The sheer precision of Harnly's draughtsmanship, capturing every glistening tool and uncomfortable-looking gadget, has a potent effect. And it makes me wonder: Is it meant to be a commentary on the advancements or maybe anxieties surrounding medical practices of the time? Look at the color palette – mostly subdued, clinical hues, save for that unsettling, almost blood-like, red in the chair. Editor: That’s so true, I didn't notice before that the objects in the scene, like the drill mechanism and the cabinetry, are drawn with an obsessive detail! Now that I'm seeing all of these objects so sharply rendered in such a strange, slightly sterile light, the drawing style really echoes the genre-painting tradition. But Harnly certainly has a perspective that adds something unique to the overall approach. Curator: Absolutely! I think that's the true genius of the work. It operates on this very personal level while alluding to larger art historical themes, perhaps as an observation on an age undergoing rapid technological and cultural shifts. Editor: The contrast between Harnly's technical approach and what he is attempting to do is quite interesting. It reveals a nuanced understanding and attitude toward developments in the mid 20th century! Curator: Precisely! We could read so much in terms of cultural critique or the artist's vision in this work, depending on what interests us, I suppose. Harnly has given us all the room in the world to do it!