Pa. German Patch Box 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, this is "Pa. German Patch Box," a watercolor and drawing created by Albert Levone between 1935 and 1942. It seems to depict an ornate metal object, maybe even a key plate with a stylized bird on top? What are your initial thoughts looking at this piece? Curator: My first thought goes to the Pennsylvania German, or "Dutch," cultural context. This piece is most likely a re-presentation of an actual physical artifact: a functional object elevated through its design. Editor: Elevated how so? Curator: Well, think about the period this was created: 1935-1942. The US was experiencing a renewed interest in folk art traditions, almost a nationalistic fervor for uniquely "American" crafts, but often removed from its original usage, thus entering the "art" world. Editor: So, it’s about transforming the common into something precious by immortalizing its image in art? Curator: Exactly! Also, consider the medium. Watercolor and drawing – accessible media which reflect this regional focus but which are now housed in a museum archive. Think about the artist, Levone, capturing and preserving this aesthetic. Was he also from the region? Who was his intended audience? What did "Pennsylvania German" design signify at this historical moment? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the nationalistic angle, and how much that shapes our understanding of even something that seems like a simple design. Curator: Indeed. Museums themselves play a crucial role in defining what gets remembered and how, influencing our sense of national and regional identity. Editor: That's something to think about. I'll never look at "folk art" the same way again.