Hair Ornament c. 1940

Editor: Here we have Douglas Campbell's "Hair Ornament," created around 1940, using watercolor and drawing techniques. There's a delicate, almost melancholic mood about it. It's such a simple composition; just a floral wreath in a frame. What's your interpretation of this work? Curator: Well, it's interesting you pick up on the melancholic mood. I see this drawing, particularly its intimate scale and medium, as reflecting the personal and domestic spheres, spaces historically associated with women. The hair ornament itself becomes a charged object. Consider what adorning oneself with such an item represented in the 1940s, during a period of significant social change and, of course, wartime. Editor: So, it’s less about the beauty of the flowers and more about the context of adornment? Curator: Precisely. This isn't just a pretty object; it's a statement, albeit a subtle one. It begs us to consider the expectations and constraints placed on women, and how they may have used these seemingly innocuous accessories to express themselves, resist norms, or find solace. The fragility of the watercolor even hints at vulnerability. Does that change how you see the work? Editor: It does. I hadn’t thought about it as a potential act of self-expression, or even resistance. Now, the slightly faded quality feels more potent, like a whisper from the past. Curator: Exactly. And whispers can be powerful when we tune in to them. Considering the historical and social contexts can really deepen our engagement with seemingly simple objects. Editor: I definitely see that. Thanks for pointing me to that broader view. I’ll look at these artworks in a new light now.