Pressing Iron 1935 - 1942

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at David S. De Vault's rendering of a pressing iron. It’s dated sometime between 1935 and 1942 and seems to be a study done in watercolor and charcoal. Editor: Immediately I’m drawn to the stillness, that sort of quiet concentration he’s captured in rendering an everyday object. And that brassy metallic glint from the iron component! How interesting, the way light dances on a utilitarian item. Curator: That “stillness” resonates beyond mere visual representation, doesn't it? This isn’t just an iron; it's an artifact imbued with layers of societal meaning. Consider the symbol of domesticity and labour it represents, particularly women's work, carefully pressed clothes, an image projected with force. Editor: Right, and seeing the iron depicted, you really feel the labor in that brass body and turned wood handle. It makes you appreciate all of the craft and labor that went into these objects. Imagine the handiwork, the shaping of metal and wood, the person who built this and their workspace, which of course this art cannot contain. Curator: The wood particularly lends itself to an interesting comparison. The color evokes a certain groundedness—it speaks of rooted traditions. This contrasts sharply with the gleaming brass which hints to external presentations of style and formality. It becomes this symbolic battleground. Editor: Exactly, that interplay of materials directs me straight to questions about class, the domestic worker responsible for pressing clothing. We should appreciate art as work as we ponder artwork featuring objects of everyday work and labor. Curator: I'm intrigued by the layers of association a seemingly simple tool unlocks! From our perspectives, these older tools are icons connecting generations. Editor: Indeed. The picture sparks thoughts on commodity, consumerism, gendered expectations... A potent little piece when we stop to reflect on making as well as meaning.