Wash Board c. 1940

Curator: Welcome! Here we have Mary Hansen’s “Wash Board,” a pencil drawing, dating from around 1940. Editor: Immediately, I see such austere domesticity rendered with surprising delicacy. It’s a fairly large drawing of a very humble object. There’s a muted tenderness at play that I can’t quite place… Curator: The real interest lies in how Hansen has utilized simple, even lines to create depth. Consider the texture she’s achieved – the grain of the wood practically jumps off the page, rendered through a mastery of chiaroscuro. She coaxed out the formal subtleties present in this utilitarian form, raising the ordinary to something significant. Editor: But who would have been using this object around 1940? And at what cost? The image speaks to generations of women—predominantly women of color—whose unacknowledged labor sustained households and families. I can’t ignore the way this object speaks to gender, class, and race; it seems so pointed at the time it was created. It really makes you think about whose stories get told and how domestic tools are vessels of their lived experiences. Curator: Certainly, the subject matter alludes to daily life, but look closely at the precision in Hansen’s hand. It's far from sentimental; each mark conveys tangible structure and geometry, speaking of a deep understanding of form itself. I'm particularly struck by the arrangement of horizontal ribs—a study of pure line and shadow! Editor: Yet this intense focus serves as a somber commentary on labor typically assigned to women of color at the time. It wasn't art or individual fame for those women; it was endless cycles of laundry, and Hansen seems to emphasize this constant, monotonous back-and-forth—which mirrors their struggle for equality, recognition, and socioeconomic liberation. I find Hansen’s choice of medium to reflect a specific political tone and mood. Curator: Regardless, I still find immense value in appreciating the meticulous handling of medium and light within its composition. Editor: Yes, and to understand its weight requires exploring the intricate realities that have brought meaning to labor for generations. Thank you for examining this piece alongside me today!