Butter Print and Mold c. 1936

Editor: So, this is Anthony Zuccarello’s “Butter Print and Mold,” from around 1936. It appears to be a drawing of several different parts that are crafted in wood, almost like a blueprint. I’m curious about its purpose as fine art, though, versus documentation. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the cultural context. During this period, especially in America, there was a renewed interest in folk art and craft traditions. This piece documents tools integral to domestic labor – specifically, butter making. We must analyze how the means of producing food intersected with art. Editor: So, you’re suggesting the drawing elevates these utilitarian objects, almost dignifies them? Is it trying to bridge the gap between 'high' art and everyday life? Curator: Exactly. Think about the labor involved. Someone designed and meticulously carved the original molds. Zuccarello then meticulously recreates these carvings, elevating them via drawing. Does the process by which something is made define whether it should be considered “art?" Editor: I never thought of it that way before! It makes you question where we draw the line between art and craft, particularly when you examine the artist’s process and material choices so closely. It is less about what something depicts and more about how it's constructed. Curator: Precisely. Reflect on the historical value. How does representing the making of butter – its materiality and production - become a cultural commentary through Zuccarello's particular craft? Editor: I see now! It really is more about labor, material, and social context, and less about subject matter or skill in the traditional sense. Thanks for helping me to see it in a new light!