Mug 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Ann Gene Buckley’s "Mug," a drawing and watercolor work from between 1935 and 1942. It's a simple depiction, yet the intricate ornamentation on the mug is quite captivating. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: Well, focusing on the materials, what’s striking is the contrast between the functional, everyday object – a mug – and the refined media used to depict it. Why choose watercolor and drawing for something so quotidian? Perhaps it elevates the object, commenting on the labor involved in both crafting the mug and recording it artistically. Editor: That’s an interesting point. So you're seeing a connection between the mug itself and the act of creating the artwork? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social context. During that period, were mass-produced goods becoming more prevalent? Is this perhaps a meditation on handmade versus machine-made, the value of artisanal labor versus industrial production? What do the decorative motifs on the mug itself suggest about cultural influences or specific crafting techniques? Editor: The detail certainly feels hand-done rather than printed. And the little sketch above… is that significant? Curator: It could be read as a study, a smaller iteration that showcases the crafting process and a further means to illustrate its production, a preliminary sketch emphasizing materiality of thought as the artist builds their subject and design.. Is it merely decorative, or is it meant to underscore the labor inherent in both making and depicting this mug? Editor: I hadn't considered that the sketch itself could represent labor! Thank you, I am noticing layers to the work that I didn't before. Curator: Thinking about the historical backdrop gives me a fresh perspective on labor. Perhaps that ordinary object and our interpretations do tell much bigger story after all.