Coffee Pot c. 1936

Curator: Here we have Roberta Elvis’s “Coffee Pot,” executed circa 1936. The artwork primarily utilizes watercolor on either paper or canvas. Editor: Its stillness is captivating. The limited color palette heightens the simple beauty of this ordinary object. The reflective quality is striking. Curator: Absolutely. The creation of a watercolor study like this provides insight into domestic labor. The labor, cost, and consumption of mass-produced kitchenware, now often cheap plastic, contrast sharply with the likely material makeup of the depicted object. Consider its intended user—who would have owned and utilized such a coffee pot? Editor: From a purely aesthetic point, the play of light across the curves is masterful. See how the artist captures the nuances of reflection, adding depth to an otherwise flat surface. Note how the handle mirrors the spout. Curator: Precisely, the object embodies elegance and speaks to ideals of the rising middle class. Furthermore, the indication that the artwork's size is roughly one-half indicates this might have been created as some sort of exercise for an industrial manufacturing process. Editor: Yes, its clear lines and balanced asymmetry exude a classic beauty. The execution, from the finial atop the lid to the base, shows remarkable consistency. Curator: Indeed, these realistic depictions of commonplace tools offered insights into the material conditions of its era and suggest ideas related to accessibility, and even sustainability when compared to our present-day culture. Editor: I appreciate the reminder that we can also study everyday life using this artistic approach. What appears to be a standard subject holds richer layers of meaning if we only focus intently on form and method. Curator: In this “Coffee Pot,” Elvis urges us to think beyond the superficial, to ponder the social implications inherent in something we might typically ignore. Editor: Yes, she provides us an entryway into the nuances of production and offers a chance to experience the beauty of these basic forms, captured in still, silvery silence.