HITTY by Rachel Field 12 1929

Editor: Here we have Dorothy Lathrop's illustration "HITTY by Rachel Field 12", created in 1929 with pencil on paper. The contrast between the doll and the striking patterned wallpaper is quite arresting. What are your thoughts on this work? Curator: Well, seeing as this illustration depicts a manufactured doll, "Hitty," it begs us to look into the labor behind such a creation. How was this doll constructed? What materials were used, and who profited from her production and distribution? We have to consider this not as a simple rendering, but the culmination of resources. Editor: So you are less interested in what is literally depicted and more about how the depicted objects came to be. Can you explain a bit more? Curator: Precisely! This isn’t just about figuration, but about material culture. The pencil itself is important – graphite mined, processed, encased in wood, each step with its own human and environmental impact. Lathrop made a deliberate choice to capture "Hitty" and its accessories through readily available materials. Why? It could be considered subversive act, bridging fine art and commonplace commodity. Editor: That’s a fascinating point about the humble medium echoing themes of accessibility and questioning artistic value! What about the act of illustration for children? Curator: Yes, thinking about the artwork in relationship with publishing for children puts its distribution and audience squarely within a system of cultural and economic exchange. Who gets to see this work and what values does it impart? Lathrop isn't simply providing visual accompaniment but actively engaging in a conversation about consumerism and artistic merit. Editor: I had not considered it that way! Looking at the labor of illustration opens up a new viewpoint on it. Curator: It shifts the focus from mere representation to understanding how making shapes not just art but also culture, for adults and children alike!