Drinking Fountain c. 1940

Editor: This drawing, "Drinking Fountain" by Edward DiGennero, from around 1940, seems to be made with pencil and graphite. The style is very geometric and clean. It’s interesting how something so functional can be portrayed with such formality. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this drawing within the context of its time. The 1940s saw a growing interest in public works and infrastructure. DiGennero's choice to depict a drinking fountain, likely intended for public use, elevates the everyday. Have you considered how the very act of sketching this object transforms it? Editor: I suppose I hadn't really considered the impact of the choice of subject, like why a water fountain. What kind of significance did drinking fountains have back then? Curator: Well, they represent accessibility, community resources, and even a kind of civic pride. But consider also who had access. Were these fountains truly available to everyone, especially in light of segregation and other social divisions present at the time? The very presence or absence of such an object in a community can speak volumes about power structures and social equity. What do you think about how it relates to our modern sensibilities and infrastructure issues? Editor: It does bring to mind current conversations about public resources, or maybe a lack thereof in some spaces. Now when I look at the water droplets it also brings more focus to those questions of equitable access. It makes me wonder if DiGennero chose this object specifically to comment on these societal concerns or inequalities. Curator: Precisely. The drawing becomes less about the object itself, and more about the broader social landscape it inhabits. Examining it allows us to discuss the crucial role art plays in reflecting—and questioning—the world around us. Thanks for sharing your perspective with me, it gives a lot to consider when looking at art. Editor: And I learned a lot! Thinking about artwork from a historical context has been insightful. It opened my eyes to things I normally would not have even considered when viewing a piece.