Trimming Shears 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Harold Ballard's "Trimming Shears," a watercolor drawing from sometime between 1935 and 1942. It’s…stark, almost lonely in its simplicity. What symbolic meaning might these shears possess? Curator: Consider the object itself – shears, instruments of cutting, dividing, shaping. What comes to mind when you see that action presented so plainly? Is it surgical or perhaps domestic? Think about the act of tending to the garden, perhaps a hedge, and what this represents. Editor: I immediately think about pruning—removing the unwanted to allow for growth. The shape does give the object a kind of totemic presence on the page; like a tool imbued with symbolic power beyond its everyday purpose. Curator: Precisely. Consider also the historical context, a period marked by immense change and anxiety with an ensuing world war on the horizon. The need for order, control, and refinement—all suggested by the shears—would have been potent. Could it symbolize a collective desire to prune away the unwanted aspects of society, reshaping it for a brighter future? Editor: That makes so much sense! It takes on a new layer of meaning when you consider the timeframe. Suddenly it isn't just a tool. Curator: It never is, is it? Everything in our daily experience reflects a deeper layer of thought. So next time, notice your mundane activities and maybe ask what are the thoughts lurking just beneath them! Editor: Absolutely. Thank you, this was fascinating. I'll definitely look at everyday objects differently now.