Strap Hinges c. 1939

Editor: So, this watercolor drawing is called "Strap Hinges" by Manuel G. Runyan, from around 1939. Initially, the rust coloring makes me think about age, and time passing. What visual symbolism do you notice here? Curator: It is fascinating how Runyan isolates these utilitarian objects. These aren't just hinges; they represent connection, security, and enclosure. The rust speaks volumes—it’s a symbol of decay, sure, but also of resilience, of enduring time and weather. Iron itself is tied to mythology – strength, boundaries, thresholds... Consider the historical context; the 1930s, a period marked by both the Great Depression and the looming threat of war. Could these hinges symbolize the yearning for stability, holding things together amid uncertainty? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't considered it in light of that time. I guess I was viewing the rust more negatively. So is this like an altar to common hardware? Curator: In a way, yes. Runyan elevates the mundane to the symbolic. Ask yourself, why focus so intently on something so ordinary? Are they a statement about the dignity of labor, about the unseen foundations upon which society is built? Even their arrangement on the page hints at something... one reaching out to the other. Editor: Like two incomplete halves that need connection? This makes me think of similar Depression-era photography. I see it now. Thank you. Curator: Precisely! Reflecting on this piece, it’s the transformation of the commonplace that resonates. We bring our own cultural understanding and life experiences to decoding it, enriching the image in ways Runyan himself may never have imagined.