Shaker Pegs and Candlestand c. 1938

Curator: This watercolor by George V. Vezolles, titled "Shaker Pegs and Candlestand," dates from around 1938. Editor: My immediate thought is "austere." The simple forms, the limited palette... It’s very grounded and, in a way, almost mathematical in its precise arrangement of shapes. Curator: Absolutely. It reflects the Shaker design principles that emphasized utility, simplicity, and honesty in construction. Their aesthetic grew out of a deep religious conviction that beauty resided in functionality and order. The Shakers' radical social views, including communal living and pacifism, extended into their material culture. Editor: The cool blues of the pegs contrast with the warmer browns of the stand, but both are rendered so plainly, there is almost a sense of visual quiet. It is also interesting to note the artist's deliberate rendering of surface texture via their handling of watercolour. The build up of tone gives shape to the forms with simple strokes. Curator: You're right; that tonal variation creates depth and visual interest, saving it from complete flatness. The artist chose this subject to, in essence, venerate those utilitarian objects. Beyond just being objects, these pegs and this candlestand represent a wider commitment to craft and self-sufficiency within a specific, closed-off community. This wasn't just about making useful items; it was about embodying the values of their society through tangible things. Editor: In many respects, the formal constraints of the piece— the palette, the shapes, and rendering—intensify the very ethos that you are describing, its sense of integrity. If one color were different, or any single object out of place, that delicate balance could be disrupted. Curator: Precisely, the watercolor itself functions as a sort of cultural document. It tells us about the Shakers, but also about how we, later viewers, interpret and value that history. This isn't merely a still life, but an encounter with a system of values, translated through art. Editor: I agree completely. A compelling snapshot, then, capturing this unique intersection between visual simplicity and profound cultural meaning.