Gunpowder Flask c. 1939

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the quiet stillness of this watercolour. It's so carefully rendered. Editor: Indeed. This is a watercolour drawing titled "Gunpowder Flask" dating to about 1939. The artist is Christabel Scrymser. Curator: Scrymser has really captured the almost austere elegance of the object. The umber tones of the flask contrast so well with the delicate green tassels. The lines are sharp, economical. It has such a strong sense of balance and form, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. A flask of gunpowder isn't perhaps what springs to mind as something elegant. However, if we dig deeper, gunpowder and weaponry were very potent symbols during this time, not only representing military power but also adventure, exploration, and survival. The addition of those tassels adds a subtle layer. They’re somewhat unexpected on such a functional item. Curator: That’s a marvelous point. They soften the aggressive potential, even hint at decoration, and domesticity, disrupting the very notion of functionality. Editor: I find the leaf-like carving particularly interesting. They suggest growth, nature—perhaps even a peace offering—rather than the death the flask contains. Think about what these juxtaposed symbols may reveal about society's conflicting ideas toward warfare. Curator: The execution, the shading… it’s so measured. There's an almost crystalline structure to it all. The shape and those meticulously detailed carved decorations play a subtle role. Editor: Scrymser uses the watercolour medium perfectly to evoke a material impression of metal and leather. Perhaps as a call to history and memory, given this piece was made on the cusp of global conflict? Curator: That is very insightful! Thinking about her choice of media within that context really gives another level of resonance to this delicate watercolour. Editor: Yes, a simple functional item, raised to the level of a cultural touchstone, through careful depiction and powerful symbolism. Curator: I concur; there's something beautifully unsettling in that precise articulation. The work is elevated through careful artistic interpretation, leaving much to consider.