Silver Tankard c. 1936

Curator: The simplicity of this pen drawing, labeled "Silver Tankard," just washes over me with such serenity. Editor: Interesting! The year, circa 1936, places this piece squarely in a period grappling with economic depression and the rise of industrial design. Its rigid, geometric forms suggest function over frivolity, but I wonder what "Silver Tankard" signifies about this artist Lawrence Flynn's aspirations or intentions, at a moment when many were facing harsh realities? Curator: A moment of reflection, I imagine. It is almost an idealized vessel of quiet comfort. Its lines are clean, precise... confident, even. Flynn probably didn't produce the piece on spec for some architectural patron. What sort of commissioner during The Depression would require or authorize such a rendering of metalwork, even for architectural illustration? It almost feels personal, doesn’t it? A desire rather than a documentation? Editor: Perhaps. I also read its meticulous, even technical linework in a historical light: there's a real precision, the stark lines capturing both the form of the tankard while somehow withholding a depth of lived experience or feeling. Did this kind of drawing reflect an interest in mass manufacturing techniques in the art world at the time? Was there perhaps a link between industry and artistic expression we have missed? What materials did the artist need, and from what location would those need to come? Curator: Absolutely! One thing to keep in mind: "Silver Tankard" transcends time, speaking both of streamlined simplicity and historical context. I mean, is there even another object one might prefer? It looks ready for some really dark stout to flow… the sort of stuff that sticks to the mustache… I'm waxing nostalgic all of a sudden! Editor: A bit on the sentimental side, are we? Still, your sense of yearning seems apropos. Perhaps this glimpse into the past does evoke a sense of desire—not just for a cool tankard of ale but perhaps a desire for a more streamlined and well-crafted life. Or, if not more well-crafted, maybe the chance to appreciate things whose crafting took work, time and effort?