Pitcher c. 1937

Curator: Frank Fumagalli's "Pitcher," created around 1937, is rendered with striking clarity using pencil on drawing paper. What's your initial reaction to it? Editor: There's a strange nostalgia embedded in its greyscale delicacy. The composition exudes a sense of quiet domesticity, of an era before our contemporary obsession with mass production. It almost feels like an artifact. Curator: The choice of a pitcher is itself interesting, isn't it? Throughout history, vessels like this are rarely just functional; they’re frequently invested with symbolic weight. Water, sustenance, purity—these are resonant themes. What do the curves and fluting evoke for you? Editor: I agree. There is an inherent sense of hospitality, particularly in its exaggerated form and baroque decoration. I am also struck by what it might symbolize regarding gender roles; the act of pouring has historically been highly gendered, hasn't it? Who has access to the pitcher is who has the access to offer service. Curator: That's a potent observation! The curves certainly play with notions of elegance, maybe even the feminine. I find it interesting that the transparency of glass is so meticulously captured in a monochrome medium, almost as if it yearns for its true materiality. Editor: That reminds me of the inherent contradiction within decorative arts - a struggle to overcome that functional/fine art binary and question value and utility, right? The almost photographic realism draws attention to its crafted nature, the maker’s hand present even in reproduction. Curator: It feels deeply personal, almost a meditative study. You can sense Fumagalli taking pleasure in observing how light plays across its form. Does that level of craftsmanship feel political at all? Editor: In a way, yes. To invest so much labor into a humble, everyday object speaks to the value assigned, or *not* assigned, to labour itself, especially in that era. Is this a commentary on the overlooked artistry inherent in craft? And furthermore, do we continue to ignore such artisanal labor today? Curator: Perhaps this image challenges us to re-evaluate what we consider worthy of our attention and appreciation, then and now. Thank you for helping unpack the weight held in a simple pitcher. Editor: And thank you for the perspective, drawing attention to the historical significance imbued within.