Vase 1935 - 1942

Editor: We're looking at a drawing entitled "Vase," made sometime between 1935 and 1942, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil by Michael Fenga. There’s a delicate quality to it; the pale green wash makes the vase seem almost ethereal. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What strikes me is how this image presents an object detached from its context. The rendering is quite meticulous, focusing on the vase's form and the play of light. But why represent this object during this time period? The late 30s and early 40s were marked by significant socio-political upheaval. Editor: So, what could the depiction of something so simple suggest about its place within that era? Curator: Consider that this was a period when functional objects were gaining attention, partly due to the rise of industrial design and the Bauhaus movement. Yet, the handcrafted feel of the drawing resists the machine aesthetic. Do you think the very act of hand-rendering, versus photographing this object, might be making a statement? Editor: Perhaps a subtle rejection of industrialization's complete takeover, a valuing of individual artistic skill? Or maybe a way to hold onto a sense of normalcy during unsettling times? Curator: Precisely! By isolating a simple object like this vase, the artist could be prompting a reevaluation of everyday life amidst the broader turmoil. It challenges the prevailing art discourse by centering domesticity and handcraft. What do you think this reveals about art's evolving role in society? Editor: It’s fascinating how a simple drawing can open up a whole dialogue about culture and history. I never would have thought that a vase could hold so much meaning. Curator: Art often reflects and shapes our perception of reality. Paying attention to context can radically change how we understand it.