Embroidered Lace Collar 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have "Embroidered Lace Collar," a pencil drawing on paper by Thomas O'Connor, created sometime between 1935 and 1942. It’s quite delicate; the fine details of the lace really stand out. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, the image of this collar speaks to the domestic sphere and to a particular history of women's labor. Think about the socio-economic conditions of the 1930s and 40s. Why document this kind of handcraft so meticulously? Editor: Perhaps there was a concern about preserving these traditional skills as industrialization increased? Curator: Precisely! And who was likely to own such a collar? Consider the social and class implications of handmade lace versus mass-produced textiles at the time. It might reflect an attempt to preserve traditions viewed as markers of refinement. The role of institutions should not be overlooked: it invites us to question which types of labour are represented, or not, and why. What are your thoughts on that? Editor: That makes me consider what’s not in the drawing – the wearer, the social context of wearing it. It brings a sharp contrast between fine art and craft and begs the question: who gets remembered? Curator: Exactly. It makes us consider how museums create and shape the narrative about society and individual in it. Editor: I've never considered it that way before. I was focusing on its aesthetic qualities, but it has so much historical context! Thanks.