Architectural Detail (Wall Bracket) 1937

Editor: Here we have Dana Bartlett’s “Architectural Detail (Wall Bracket),” a 1937 drawing that blends watercolor and colored pencil to depict what looks like a supporting element from a building. There’s something very classical and… almost austere about it. What's your read on this, Professor? Curator: What strikes me immediately is how this seemingly simple piece speaks to larger dialogues about architecture and power. Consider the context: 1937. The rise of totalitarian regimes across Europe saw a resurgence of neoclassical architecture—grand, imposing structures meant to project strength and dominance. Editor: Are you saying this bracket, even in its miniature form, is participating in that kind of visual language? Curator: Absolutely. Even in a seemingly decorative piece like this, we can see echoes of that desire for order and control. Think about how the geometric patterns and symmetry enforce a strict visual hierarchy. It’s about more than just aesthetics; it’s about asserting a specific worldview. It also speaks to ideas of traditional masculinity and the way it associates itself to classicism. I would challenge anyone that it's innocent decor. What does the student in you think? Editor: I guess I didn’t think about architecture as having a role in power dynamics... But, thinking about monuments, or even imposing government buildings, that makes sense. Curator: Precisely. And it raises crucial questions: Whose values are being reflected in these designs? Who is given access, and who is excluded? What impact do these physical structures have on our understanding of community and authority? Editor: This has completely changed how I look at this bracket. I was seeing it as just an pretty piece, but now I see these ideas about power, tradition, and even masculinity. Curator: Exactly. Art isn't made in a vacuum. Every line, every color choice, carries a story rooted in its time.