Unrigged Pack Saddle c. 1932

Editor: This colored-pencil drawing, “Unrigged Pack Saddle,” made around 1932 by an anonymous artist, gives us several views of the saddle’s wooden frame and also depicts the donkey that carries it. It makes me wonder about labor, both animal and human, particularly how certain kinds of work are often rendered invisible. What do you make of this, given its time period? Curator: That’s a fantastic point. Looking at this work through the lens of labor, especially considering its creation during the Great Depression, invites a deeper understanding. This era saw immense social upheaval and questioning of economic systems. The artist’s focus on a working animal and its equipment—isolated from a broader landscape—speaks volumes. The meticulous rendering of the pack saddle, a tool facilitating labor, almost elevates it. Do you see this piece as celebrating or perhaps subtly critiquing that kind of work? Editor: I hadn't thought of it as either celebrating or critiquing necessarily. More like…simply observing. Is it possible the artist wanted to document a disappearing way of life? To show the dignity, rather than the drudgery, of labor? Curator: That’s an interesting possibility. Focusing on “dignity,” it reminds us that this is not just a practical tool but also something intricately connected to the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities. And of course, thinking about who "anonymous" may have been and how they fit into the system is central to thinking about art in a socially conscious way. The choice of colored pencil as the medium also contributes; it feels accessible, grounded. What does it communicate to you? Editor: Now that I consider that possibility, I realize the medium lends a certain tenderness. So, looking at it through the activist lens you propose helps me see how much this simple drawing invites questions about class, labor, and even animal rights. Curator: Absolutely. By considering those elements we begin to unpack its potential as social commentary and see beyond just the depiction of a humble saddle.