Butter Mold 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this is a colored-pencil drawing of a "Butter Mold" by Charlotte Angus, made between 1935 and 1942. It feels almost like a faded memory, you know? How do you interpret this work in the context of its time? Curator: It's crucial to consider the broader socio-economic climate of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The nation was still recovering from the Great Depression and entering a world war. How might the creation of a simple domestic object, like a butter mold, during this period be seen as a form of quiet resistance or a preservation of cultural identity? Editor: I never thought about it as resistance! It seems almost too…ordinary. Curator: Precisely. Its ordinariness is its power. Consider the gendered implications – the domestic sphere was traditionally assigned to women. Could this drawing be interpreted as a subtle assertion of value in those spaces, a recognition of the labour often rendered invisible? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The eagle seems to symbolize patriotism, and domesticity too. Curator: Exactly! So how does that iconography interplay with notions of American identity, especially during a time of immense national and international upheaval? Is Angus reinforcing traditional values, or perhaps subtly critiquing them by placing them within this very specific, "feminine" context? Editor: It's more complicated than I initially thought. I guess these everyday objects really carry layers of meaning. Curator: Indeed. Recognizing those layers is key to understanding the complex narratives woven into even the simplest of artworks, challenging dominant historical accounts and offering a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those often marginalized.