Sewing Worn Parts on Cradle Legs 1941

Editor: Here we have Robert Austin's drawing, "Sewing Worn Parts on Cradle Legs," its date is unknown. It’s a charcoal drawing with some lovely detail but quite a somber mood. What leaps out at you when you see this, as an expert? Curator: Somber is a good word. I see resilience, don't you? These figures are literally patching things up, mending what's broken. Austin seems to suggest human ingenuity and spirit, maybe even during wartime austerity. It reminds me a bit of making do and mending at home. Editor: I hadn’t thought about the historical context that way. Curator: But isn't it interesting how a simple scene of repair can resonate so profoundly?