Silver Creamer c. 1937

Editor: This is Hester Duany’s "Silver Creamer," created around 1937. It's a lovely, very realistic drawing, and the depiction of light reflecting on the silver surface is captivating. What's particularly interesting about it to you? Curator: It is fascinating to think about the making of such an object in the 1930s. Silverware speaks volumes about social class and consumption habits. Who owned such an item during the Depression, and who was able to afford such a precise rendering of it? Think of the labor involved in both crafting the original creamer, and then the labour required to create the drawing of that creamer. Editor: That’s a good point; the labor element really wasn't on my mind. I was too caught up in the aesthetics of it. It gives me a greater respect to understand more. Curator: The medium also impacts the way we view the subject. Had it been a photograph, for instance, our interpretation would have differed, right? Consider how drawing lends a specific kind of elevated value through that intense labor. This brings up questions about the original function versus the elevated aesthetic purpose conveyed in this drawing. Editor: So the shift from functional object to a rendered object changes the conversation around value? I hadn’t thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely. Think also about the resources consumed: silver, paper, graphite, and the time of skilled artisans and the artist herself. Every object tells many stories. Editor: Wow, I’ll certainly never look at a simple drawing of silverware the same way again. Thank you! Curator: And thank you! Recognizing how artistry and socioeconomic status can entwine will make your analyses richer and more nuanced.