Stockings c. 1937

Editor: We're looking at Sylvia Dezon's "Stockings," a pencil drawing on paper from around 1937. It's surprisingly detailed, considering the subject matter. The level of detail, rendering the texture of the knitted fabric, is what stood out to me. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This seemingly mundane object offers a potent entry point into the domestic sphere of women in the 1930s. A drawing of a stocking prompts questions about gender roles, labor, and representation. Editor: I hadn't considered that. In what way? Curator: Well, think about the labor involved in making or mending stockings. It was often women's work, devalued and unseen. Dezon elevates this everyday object, inviting us to consider the lives and experiences of women beyond traditional portraiture. The choice of medium—pencil—further emphasizes the intimacy and the painstaking effort associated with this form of labor. Could this be read as a quiet form of resistance? Editor: Resistance? To what, exactly? Curator: To the patriarchal structures that confined women to the domestic sphere and simultaneously diminished the value of their contributions. By focusing on the stocking, Dezon brings attention to the objects and tasks that defined many women’s lives, asking us to re-evaluate their significance. The drawing exists almost as an assertion of the dignity found in everyday female existence. Does that change your perspective? Editor: Definitely! I initially saw it as just a simple drawing, but I now realize there’s a complex commentary on gender roles and the value of women's work hidden beneath the surface. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It's a great reminder to always question what we see, and to look beyond the surface for the deeper social narratives art can reveal.