Iron Holder c. 1937

Editor: This is Herman Bader's "Iron Holder," from around 1937. It's a pencil drawing on paper. The realism is compelling, but it feels less like a finished artwork and more like a technical drawing, like a blueprint perhaps. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Precisely. We must consider the historical context of the Depression era. A utilitarian object rendered with such detail directs our attention to the means of production, not just aesthetic appreciation. The pencil, the paper—these are the raw materials with which Bader represents raw materials, presumably iron. Note also the inclusion of measurements - is Bader the maker, the retailer, or both? Editor: I see what you mean. It almost feels like an advertisement, emphasizing the object's function, not just its beauty. Curator: The artist's labor, then, becomes the subject. How might we interpret this emphasis on the industrial within a cultural and socio-economic crisis? The presence of the bird and leaves seem to soften the industrial with natural symbolism. Editor: So, by drawing this seemingly mundane object with such care, Bader is actually highlighting the importance of labor and manufacturing? The combination of realism and measuring scale certainly highlights the work and process involved. Curator: Exactly. He forces us to consider the inherent value in the craftsmanship and materiality of even the most functional items. Consider where and how this might have been displayed. Was it, indeed, commercial art or an act of art-making itself? That would influence how the labor and artistic creation meet and interact. Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. It makes me see the drawing in a whole new light, as a comment on the dignity of labor during a challenging period. Curator: Indeed. It’s a quiet piece, but it speaks volumes about the relationship between art, labor, and material culture. We can easily dismiss drawings if we restrict them to being merely studies or preparatory items, when the choices of subject matter and method speak volumes in and of themselves.