Pa. German Plate c. 1941

Editor: Here we have "Pa. German Plate" made around 1941 using watercolor and earthenware. It's quite folksy and the birds and plants create an appealing scene. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: The use of earthenware is fascinating, particularly in the context of 1941. Earthenware production at this time suggests a continuation of traditional craft practices, perhaps resisting the homogenization of industrial manufacturing during wartime. How does the watercolor medium inform our understanding of this plate as object versus image? Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t considered the implications of earthenware. The watercolor gives it a lighter touch than what I expect of pottery. What do you mean by object versus image? Curator: Consider the function, production and labor required to make an actual earthenware plate of the period. This image then becomes a reflection of that process but loses that functionality, right? This connects the image with both utilitarian objects and fine art practices. Does that tension between the practical and the aesthetic change the way you see it? Editor: Yes, definitely! It makes me wonder about the role of folk art, and how it relates to the economic realities of the time. Did people use plates like this, or were they always considered art objects? Curator: Exactly! By investigating the materials and purpose we start uncovering complex issues of class, production and artistic expression that go beyond simple aesthetic appreciation. Perhaps this connects to broader anxieties about industrialization impacting local artisanship. Editor: I see how paying attention to the materiality and cultural context really changes our perspective. Thanks, this has made me look at the plate – and art in general – with new eyes. Curator: Agreed. Looking beyond the surface, the material tells a powerful story.