Service Flag 1915

Editor: This is Childe Hassam's "Service Flag," created in 1915, employing etching, lithography, and ink techniques. It gives me a feeling of a memory fading. What grabs you when you look at this work? Curator: The scene feels like looking into someone’s heart during wartime. A house, presumably filled with loved ones, drawn with frantic lines that express anxiety, overshadowed by looming darkness with the branches pressing in. You see, it's more than just a building. Hassam is capturing the emotional climate of a nation at war. Did the term “service flag” resonate with you at all? Editor: I'm not too familiar with "service flag," other than seeing the title. So, in this case, I hadn't considered how that would fit in. Curator: Ah! These flags indicated how many family members were serving in the military during World War I. Often displayed in windows, they were visual representations of sacrifice. Look again—imagine that flag hanging in one of the windows. Doesn't it amplify the feeling of apprehension that vibrates from this drawing? It's subtle, like a secret whispered through the frantic lines. Almost like looking for someone, waiting to see someone arrive. Editor: Absolutely! Understanding the service flag's significance adds another layer of meaning, highlighting both the patriotism and the fear experienced at home. It shifts my perspective from a simple cityscape to a powerful commentary on wartime anxiety. Thank you, this work and its significance are much clearer to me now. Curator: The pleasure is all mine. Each artwork is just waiting to whisper its story, if you're willing to lend an ear.