Tooth Puller c. 1941

Editor: This is Joseph Cannella’s "Tooth Puller," a watercolor drawing from around 1941. It’s quite a stark image. The tooth puller itself dominates the composition, isolated against the blank background, making it feel both clinical and a bit menacing. What do you see in this piece, especially considering the context of the time it was made? Curator: Well, immediately I think about the societal implications. Cannella painted this around the time of World War II. It makes you wonder about the experiences of the working class and those serving in the military during a time when basic medical care may not have been available to all. I am interested in what this object tells us about inequity. The representation of a simple tooth-pulling tool, elevated to the subject of art, confronts viewers with a raw depiction of working-class experiences, but there's something unsettling about it. The handle is clean, the metal shows no rust or wear... it hasn't been used. Is Cannella trying to portray some element of the middle class at that time? Editor: That’s a fascinating perspective. I hadn’t considered that. So, rather than just a simple depiction of a tool, you see it as a commentary on the social landscape of the era, highlighting the potential disparities in healthcare and socioeconomic conditions. Curator: Precisely. We need to critically examine how visual culture normalizes, naturalizes, and even celebrates structures of power, inequality, and oppression. We need to be more sensitive in the way these themes are expressed. Don’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely. Thinking about art in this way certainly deepens our understanding, prompting us to ask crucial questions about who gets access to healthcare, who performs manual labor, and whose stories are often left untold. Thanks for shedding light on these historical nuances! Curator: My pleasure! Engaging with art should always be an opportunity to dissect our perceptions and biases.