Leather Covered Trunk c. 1939

John Cutting rendered this watercolor of a leather-covered trunk, sometime between 1855 and 1995, the years of his life. At first glance, we have a straightforward depiction of a common household item. But such objects are never neutral. Consider the cultural associations of the trunk. It evokes travel, migration, and perhaps immigration. Note the initials “JW” stenciled onto its side, suggesting a personal history. Who was JW and what journeys did this trunk accompany? The trunk as a cultural artifact is worth further study. Archival records, passenger manifests, and genealogical databases would help to flesh out the story of JW and the role this trunk played in their life. Art, in this sense, becomes a portal into social and institutional histories. The historian helps to connect the dots, enriching our understanding of the past.