Silver Sauce Boat 1937

Editor: This is Michael Fenga's "Silver Sauce Boat," a pencil drawing from 1937. It’s really interesting to see such an everyday object depicted with so much attention to detail, particularly the way light reflects. What can you tell me about this drawing? Curator: Well, let's start with the obvious. The "Silver Sauce Boat." Not exactly the subject matter of high art, right? But, that is a silver SAUCE boat rendered in exacting detail with a simple pencil. It challenges our assumptions about artistic value, suggesting it resides not in the preciousness of materials or the grandeur of subject, but in the labor and skill of the drawing itself. Think about the social context in 1937 – the Depression, mass production. Editor: So, the artist is highlighting the labor that goes into creating even seemingly mundane items? Curator: Exactly! The drawing documents the craftsmanship, the means of production even of an everyday object elevating it through this detailed, careful representation. We might even think about the function of a sauce boat. Who is consuming from it? Who isn't? What does that say about access to luxury goods, even during a time of economic hardship? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it in terms of social class before. So, the drawing itself, the graphite, the paper—they all become important elements of a statement about materiality and labor. Curator: Precisely. And consider, too, the contrast. This drawing isn't about obscuring the means of its creation like a Renaissance painting trying to give you a window onto the world. You can clearly see the individual pencil strokes, the artist’s hand at work. Does seeing the labor change our perception of the object? Editor: Definitely. Now I’m thinking about the broader context of craft and consumerism. It's about so much more than just a sauce boat! Thanks for highlighting the work and process behind the art! Curator: And you helped me think about how this artwork reflects socio-economic conditions beyond its obvious appearance. It's fascinating to peel back those layers of meaning.