Inkwell c. 1939

Curator: Well, this is charming. We’re looking at Nicholas Amantea's "Inkwell," a watercolor and ink drawing made around 1939. What do you make of it? Editor: My first impression is one of muted nostalgia. It feels like looking at a cherished, but slightly forgotten object. The colors are gentle, and the depiction, while detailed, carries a certain vulnerability, what feelings does it convey to you? Curator: It is interesting you pick up on that, because it presents such a fascinating contrast. The subject, the inkwell, carries significant cultural weight—related to learning and record-keeping, very serious things—but the medium, the softness of watercolor, makes it feel very personal, intimate even. Ink, obviously has the power to document laws and historical facts, so why chose watercolour, why make the subject so light? Editor: Perhaps to hint at the more human and transient side of such grand projects. Notice the little decorations on top, which one could consider subtle symbols of creativity and intellect. In some traditions the circle is thought to represent enlightenment and continuity. The overall impression creates, for me, an interesting counterpoint between lasting record and passing thought. What of it historically? Curator: The date is quite evocative isn't it. Amantea produced it just before the conflagration of the Second World War. We can argue this may represent the quiet moments before, the gathering storm that led people to turn inwards and seek the small pleasures such as books and learning. So much was about to be lost. Did he realise? Editor: Indeed, these forms of receptacles and records often have their place as holders of what matters most to our societies, not always just laws. It reminds us to appreciate both the grand narratives, and quiet beauty. A symbol that carries within it a powerful reminder. Curator: Agreed. So much information can be hidden, like thoughts within an inkwell! Thanks to pieces like this one, our institution is charged with finding it all again and protecting them, no small order! Editor: I believe its very subtlety contributes to its charm and emotional effect. We are forced to go looking, a mirror to what we require to seek value, and the work reflects the quest perfectly.