Tie-back c. 1938

Curator: Look at this drawing. “Tie-back,” a coloured pencil rendering from around 1938 by Harry Jennings. My first thought is "Oh! The light. Is it catching or reflecting?” Editor: Yes, the illumination, subtle gradations, the almost palpable gleam are rather fetching. But note also how the colour pencils build layered tonal shifts, achieving an extraordinary sculptural effect, especially on the floral carvings. Curator: The metallic effect is beautifully observed. So evocative. You see those highlights catching, almost glittering. Was it ever realized, I wonder, in metal? Some interior, someplace... Maybe grand. Probably modest. Editor: Functionality meets artistry, wouldn’t you say? And look at the formal balance struck: oval ornament, stylized foliate motif, rendered in metallic hues that recall Art Deco elegance. The simplicity gives this such clarity of design. Curator: Oh, without question. It's that decorative aesthetic alright. It must be intended for drawing-room curtains, a little mundane maybe. But a little luxury seeping into even the drabbest, most ordinary little house! Editor: Ordinary, perhaps, but consider Jennings' keen observational prowess, decoding and presenting commonplace reality with rigorous formalism. Isn't that act profound, a mirror refracting mundane life, investing even humble subjects with inherent worthiness? Curator: That’s very true. There is value there. To elevate a curtain tie! I'm getting drawn into these curves and shines. I love the small detail, a bit off centre with a hint of quirk. Gives it such warmth. It's more human and somehow more inviting. Editor: See how these curves interlock, establish pattern-based aesthetic value in balance with this unique touch—this subtle subversion adds a human feel as well—an almost playful dialectic between convention and personalization? Curator: Ah, yes. Convention! That kind of sums it up. Not really rebellious, not screamingly groundbreaking... But solid. There to be of service, with grace, with little quiet style. Editor: Quite so. In essence, the dialogue showcases how something perceived as banal—a curtain tie rendered through an underappreciated art like colored pencil drawing—yields significant formal value upon scrutiny.