_Tages Arbeit, Abends Gäste..._ 

Editor: This delightful drawing, whose title translates to "Day's Work, Evening Guests…", seems to be rendered in watercolor, gouache, and ink. It reminds me of folk art and evokes feelings of nostalgia and community. What stories do you think the imagery conveys? Curator: It's fascinating how Bertha Bagge captures daily life through this lens of idealized community. Notice the structure, how the “day's work” in the upper register leads directly into the “evening guests” and “happy celebrations” below. What feelings arise when you observe the recurring figures in both halves? Editor: It’s almost like a visual proverb, right? I feel like she’s suggesting that hard work leads to joyful leisure. Curator: Precisely! Consider the symbolism—the ladder signifies aspiration, the shared meals, the closeness. Each image reinforces a narrative of harmonious labor and social connection, values perhaps deeply yearned for within a rapidly industrializing society. The ribbons and garlands, too, emphasize this desire. How might this artwork serve as a form of cultural memory? Editor: I see what you mean! It preserves an image of community and shared values. A little…idealized, maybe? Curator: Idealization often serves a purpose. By visually enshrining these scenes, Bagge participates in shaping a shared understanding and emotional connection to an imagined past, or perhaps a desired future. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but now I recognize this yearning. It makes me wonder what future viewers will glean from such idealized images today. Curator: And so the cycle continues, editor. These images hold our projections and memories across time, telling us as much about ourselves as the subjects they portray.