Brooch 1935 - 1942

This design for a brooch was drawn by Irene Lawson in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, with pen and ink on paper. These materials are fundamental, and the process direct. Consider the artist’s labor, as well as that of the maker who would take up this design. The drawing is a concept for something small, precise, intimate, and this invites questions of how the object would be made, and how long that would take. The material also influences the appearance; the inherent qualities of substance, texture, weight, color and form all contribute to the piece’s significance, and the fact that this is a design expands this even further. Whether intended as a one-off, or a piece to be produced repeatedly, it represents an act of both creative and technical imagination. Paying attention to these processes is crucial to understanding the full meaning of this artwork, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.