Bridle c. 1937

Editor: This is Gordena Jackson's "Bridle," a watercolor and drawing made around 1937. I'm really struck by the detail in the rendering of the braided leather. What strikes you about this work? Curator: I think the beauty in the meticulous detail also reveals a tension. Consider that a bridle is an instrument of control, of power over another being. Jackson’s rendering invites us to contemplate the relationship between humans and animals and the historical context of this power dynamic. Where does this image sit within the narratives of western expansion? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't considered the implications of the bridle itself, just its aesthetic qualities. Curator: And that’s valid too, and where academic art intersects with folk art and even fashion. Consider the vibrant colours woven into the leather. Are those merely decorative, or do they represent something more profound about cultural exchange or even resistance? Editor: Resistance? How so? Curator: The presence of bright colours in an otherwise functional object could suggest an assertion of identity and creative agency, potentially subverting the intended purpose of control with embellishment. Editor: I never thought of it that way. So, seeing the bridle as both beautiful and a tool of control gives it a more complicated message? Curator: Precisely. And understanding that tension encourages us to reflect on power dynamics, cultural expression, and the intersection of art, function, and identity in a complex historical period. Editor: Thanks! It's fascinating how much deeper you can go when considering the context and subtext.