Pie Plate 1936

Curator: Editor: Here we have Agnes Karlin’s “Pie Plate,” made in 1936, rendered in watercolor on paper. I’m struck by how functional and, well, *ordinary* the subject is. I wonder what made Karlin decide to depict something so…domestic? How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see it as a commentary on the everyday. This isn't some grand historical scene, it's a humble object elevated through artistic representation. Consider the social context: 1936 was deep in the Great Depression. This watercolor suggests a focus on simpler things, on the tools that sustained daily life. Notice how the artist has depicted it: careful brushstrokes and clear delineation of form and texture invite contemplation on what a pie plate really *is*. What kind of labor do you think went into creating this object, both the plate itself and its depiction in watercolor? Editor: That's a fascinating point. It emphasizes the sheer act of creation – both the original ceramic work and the artist’s work to portray it in a different medium. I guess I had viewed it as quaint, maybe a little boring, but considering it as a statement about labor changes my perspective. Did Karlin have a background in ceramics, or some particular connection to this type of object? Curator: It’s about shifting our attention, isn’t it? About giving value to often unseen labour? And it is not necessarily about the artist’s particular history. Karlin gives agency to materials and the modes of their existence. Editor: Right, focusing on the thingness of things...It really makes me consider the social implications embedded within even the most seemingly mundane objects. Thanks! Curator: And on a daily basis. Thank you!