Two Oil Lamps c. 1938

Editor: Here we have Walter Hochstrasser’s “Two Oil Lamps,” likely from 1938, a drawing in watercolor and coloured pencil. They're simple, utilitarian objects, but there’s a certain austerity to them… What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Thanks! I see echoes of pre-war anxiety. Hochstrasser painted this just before WWII exploded, and domestic objects take on heightened importance. In that light, how do these lamps function as symbols of hope, or perhaps anxiety, during a time of encroaching darkness? Do they signal an enduring flame of hope in a time of political turmoil? Editor: So you are saying that something simple like a lamp could also be viewed as a representation of hope and resilience when things look grim. Does the metallic, almost cold rendering influence this interpretation? Curator: Absolutely. Think about the labour involved in creating even the simplest form of light before industrialization. Consider how such pieces carry stories of material scarcity and ingenuity. Moreover, metal conveys ideas of endurance and strength in an uncertain social climate. Are the lamps ready, able to continue burning throughout hardship, a quiet visual resistance to encroaching darkness? What kind of viewer would this communicate with most strongly? Editor: That gives me a completely new perspective on them. Initially, I just saw household items. But now, I see reflections of a society on edge. It’s about how we imbue the everyday with political and social meaning, isn’t it? Curator: Exactly. Even something as seemingly ordinary as an oil lamp is not neutral; it speaks volumes if you know how to listen. Thanks for raising that critical question, it really highlighted how to think through that difficult pre-war moment!