Locket c. 1937

Editor: This is Edward White's "Locket," from around 1937. It’s a drawing, seemingly a design, showcasing a miniature piece of jewelry. The detail is quite ornate, and there's a kind of antiquated charm to the design that really grabs me. What do you see in this piece in terms of its historical context? Curator: This locket drawing is interesting because it offers a glimpse into the applied arts of the late 1930s. Consider the context: the Great Depression is still impacting design and consumption, yet we see a yearning for luxury and personalized items. The miniature quality and detail indicate a certain craftsmanship and investment of time, but this is just a design – possibly a marketing tool. It also begs the question: Who was this locket intended for? What socio-economic group would be the target for such jewelry, and how does that impact its style? Editor: That makes me think about mass production versus bespoke design during that time. The drawing almost suggests something exclusive, but was there a tension there, between wanting unique pieces and affordability? Curator: Precisely. And what is the public role of such an image? Was it an aspiration? A symbol of social mobility or a reminder of existing social structures? Editor: So, it’s not just about the beauty of the design itself, but about the social messages embedded in it, and how those messages would have been read and understood in the late 1930s. I hadn't considered the economic and social implications of a jewelry design like this. Curator: Exactly. By exploring those implications, we gain a richer understanding not only of the artwork itself but also of the complex society that produced it and consumed its imagery. I find that quite fascinating, don't you? Editor: I absolutely agree. It changes my perception of it completely.