Flat Iron Holder c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Filippo Porreca's "Flat Iron Holder," created around 1937. It's a graphite drawing on paper, rendered with what looks like an engineer's precision. I find the choice of depicting something so functional quite interesting. What strikes you about this drawing? Curator: Immediately, I consider the act of drawing itself. Graphite on paper elevates a utilitarian object. It’s not just documentation; it transforms industrial design into something precious, highlighting the labor involved not just in the object’s creation but also the artistic rendering itself. Notice the multiple views; does that reveal something about its function and context? Editor: That’s interesting. The different perspectives do provide more information on its 3-D structure. Maybe he aimed to really understand how this simple household tool was put together. It really spotlights its manufacture. Curator: Exactly. It speaks to an engagement with the materiality of everyday life. The drawing aesthetic invites questions. Was this mass produced? Meant for a specific class? And by portraying it, what's Porreca saying about the role of labor and industry in everyday society? Does it monumentalize labor, or simply capture it? Editor: It seems he wanted to show this very modest product under a different angle, by giving it artistic dignity. Curator: And where do you think this leaves "craft" in this equation? I wonder about that too. I keep wondering about the economic realities surrounding its original production, which makes me consider what constitutes ‘art’ versus ‘design.’ Thanks for sharing your point of view; it has certainly enhanced mine! Editor: Yes, these are very thought-provoking. I definitely have new perspectives on material culture now.