HITTY by Rachel Field 17 1929

Editor: We're looking at "HITTY by Rachel Field 17," a 1929 ink drawing by Dorothy Lathrop. It features a young girl writing at a desk, a sweet puppy nearby. It has a real old-fashioned, folky feel to it. What's your interpretation? Curator: The magic lies in its layered symbolism, don’t you think? On the surface, it's a simple domestic scene, yet consider the quill: a potent symbol of literacy and knowledge during that era. A symbol of societal status and aspiration. And the dog. Consider the ever present and historical aspect of this as a faithful guardian. How does it inform our sense of security and place? Editor: That’s a fascinating way to frame it. I mostly just thought of it as quaint. Does the folky style influence your interpretation? Curator: Absolutely! The flat perspective, the simplified forms—these all tap into a deep well of cultural memory, of storytelling and shared tradition. Lathrop seems to want to conjure the past while anchoring it with the immediacy of childhood, that puppy and rug placing the past in present form. Does the image invite reflection on simpler times and the universality of human experiences, in your mind? Editor: I can definitely see that now, especially with the flowers as reminders of the past. Thanks! I’m leaving with a totally different impression of this drawing. Curator: It's a dance of cultural symbols, carefully choreographed by the artist. We see them again and again and continue their emotional weight. Now, every time I see such images, I am struck anew by this fact!