Baby's Bib 1935 - 1942

Eleanor Gausser made this design for a baby's bib, on an undated piece of paper. Consider the context of a woman artist in the late 19th and early 20th century United States. The art world was dominated by men, and women were often relegated to so-called "domestic" subjects. While we cannot know Gausser's intentions for sure, the subject of a baby's bib invites speculation. Was she embracing or subverting these gendered expectations? Was she making art for art's sake, or was this design intended for commercial production? Was she challenging or reinforcing the institutions of art? To get a better understanding, we could consult census records, exhibition catalogues, and period publications on women artists and the decorative arts. Such research would help us to interpret Gausser's work within its complex social and institutional context.