Crock 1935 - 1942

Curator: What a curious drawing! There's something serene, almost melancholic, about its simple composition. The slightly muted colors add to that feeling. Editor: And let's contextualize this stillness. This is John Tarantino's "Crock," likely created between 1935 and 1942. We see the object, a crock, rendered through charcoal and watercolor—interesting choice of media to depict a utilitarian, probably mass-produced, ceramic item. Curator: Mass-produced but individualized, I think. Note the unique floral motif. It seems a bit folk-art, naive in execution. It’s interesting how it contrasts with the object’s commercial production. It feels...nostalgic for something maybe simpler? Editor: Nostalgia is certainly at play. It's useful to consider this piece during the Depression era; the emphasis is shifted toward objects that signal American ingenuity and endurance. These handmade embellishments offered personalized touches within a consumer landscape. I wonder about the artist's motivations – documenting an everyday artifact or perhaps elevating a piece of humble craftsmanship? Curator: Elevating it perhaps through artistic conventions. Note how Tarantino uses light and shadow to lend volume and importance to a very mundane object. He presents it almost like a classical still-life subject. Editor: The contrast between the drawing's precision and the crock’s rugged utility really jumps out now. Think about the labor: the unseen hands crafting and firing the clay, the probable decorative transfer work, and now the hand of the artist re-presenting it all. Curator: Indeed! I think it is interesting to contemplate how a functional piece like this can serve as a portal to reflect on a broader range of histories of the American industry and art. Editor: This artwork, initially quite simple in its presentation, turns out to be richly woven within layers of production and culture.