Purse c. 1936

Curator: I'm immediately struck by the charm and naive beauty of this drawing. There’s something so comforting in its simplicity. Editor: Indeed. What we have here is "Purse," a watercolor and drawing on paper created by Mabel Ritter around 1936. It's an intriguing example of decorative folk art, offering a glimpse into vernacular artistry of the period. Curator: The drawing…it has such a tender feel. I love the pink bow. Do you get the sense it’s like a template or maybe design study for an actual purse? The stitchwork and detailing seems really meticulous but idealized. Editor: That's precisely right. These types of drawings were common during the WPA era. Artists often produced renderings of handicrafts for documentation or potential replication as part of the government’s support programs. The almost hyper-realistic representation suggests an intention for detailed production. Curator: Right, like instructions for an imagined artisan! The folk art element gives it a sense of place, the homes are giving cozy vibes. Then we’ve got the blue fringe that feels like rain…It is so descriptive. Editor: Absolutely. The motif of the houses beneath the vibrant flora, bordered with that chromatic zigzag and whimsical blue fringe suggests a certain narrative—an attempt to render the everyday sublime through simple forms and radiant color. Also the pink and white lines that almost looks like toothpaste. Curator: Totally. But I wonder if it could even be about the hidden labour behind supposedly "folksy" charm. Like we get this warm glow when we see the picture of this bag. But we fail to imagine who, or how, it’s getting manufactured. Editor: That's a perceptive reading. It underscores how folk art can be appropriated, commodified, and idealized without recognizing the labor and socioeconomic conditions of those creating it. This drawing stands as a stark yet gentle reminder. Curator: Yeah, a complicated nostalgia bottled in a candy-coated drawing. Editor: Yes, candy coated it is. Perhaps this sweet lens has sharpened my eye to history.