Toaster or Broiler c. 1939

Editor: Here we have Frank McEntee’s "Toaster or Broiler" from around 1939, rendered in pencil and charcoal, maybe some watercolor, too. It's... strangely beautiful for a kitchen appliance? There's a real sense of solidity. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Consider the context: the late 1930s, the tail end of the Depression era. To elevate a utilitarian object to art is a radical act. Do you see any social commentary here, in taking this rather mundane, commonplace object, and presenting it in this academic art style? Editor: I guess, by focusing so intently on something so basic, McEntee’s making us think about the essentials, like having something to eat. Is it a subtle political statement about domestic labor or economic hardship? Curator: Precisely. And notice the ambiguity in the title: "Toaster or Broiler." It hints at choice, but a limited one. What kind of choice do working-class people actually have? Is this commentary on consumerism itself, by imbuing a piece of cooking equipment with fine-art sensibility? Editor: It's a little subversive. Like he's turning everyday life into something worthy of contemplation, making you stop and reconsider even the simplest objects. Curator: Absolutely! By meticulously depicting a functional appliance, McEntee challenges our assumptions about what constitutes "high" art. And maybe encourages us to find value and beauty in overlooked corners of our lives, and to reflect upon the daily practices that shape our lives. What’s your impression now? Editor: It's definitely less "just" a toaster now. It feels charged with questions about class and value. Curator: I'm glad we could reframe a humble object, looking closer.