Cuspidor 1938

Hans Mangelsdorf created this drawing of a cuspidor, or spittoon, of indeterminate date, using graphite, and watercolor over graphite on paper. Its existence as an artwork raises interesting questions about social norms and institutional habits. Consider, for example, that the spittoon was once a common sight in public places like hotels, train stations, and bars, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when tobacco use was widespread. The spittoon served a practical function in an era without effective plumbing or a strong awareness of hygiene. Why, then, would an artist choose to represent this utilitarian object? Perhaps Mangelsdorf was interested in the interplay between function and form or in commenting on the social habits of his time. Was he critiquing the pervasiveness of tobacco use, or simply documenting a common feature of the built environment? Art historians seek out period sources, like etiquette manuals and public health documents to better understand the changing social attitudes that influence our view of objects like this.