Rush Burner Paperweight c. 1936

Gerald Bernhardt created this watercolor of a "Rush Burner Paperweight" at an undetermined date, though we know he lived between 1855 and 1995. Bernhardt's drawing invites us to reflect on the intersection of labor, domestic life, and technological progress. The paperweight, an object designed to hold down papers, becomes a symbol of the rapidly changing world of work and information. During Bernhardt's lifetime, industrialization transformed daily life. What was the role of the artist in portraying and responding to the changes? This humble paperweight might also speak to the unsung labor often associated with women in the domestic sphere. In a world that often overlooks the contributions of women, the act of securing papers might be viewed as an act of quiet resistance. Bernhardt's artwork provides a lens through which to examine the emotional and personal dimensions of labor, memory, and identity.