Ruby Vase c. 1936

Editor: Here we have "Ruby Vase," a watercolor drawing by Edward White, around 1936. The vase itself is arresting, this dark crimson color. But I’m really drawn to how it seems to sprout from a classical, almost gaudy, gilded hand. What are your thoughts on this, what stands out? Curator: For me, it’s how this piece marries the sleek lines of Art Deco with what appears to be a found object, a mass-produced ornate element representing the hand. White seems to be interrogating the hierarchy between the "fine art" vase form and the "lesser" decorative object it’s juxtaposed with. Editor: So, by using watercolor to depict both, is he commenting on the role of labor in creating art versus craft? Curator: Exactly. Watercolor, though a traditional medium, can be quite accessible and allows for reproducibility. The crisp lines could suggest industrial design, hinting at a streamlined process not unlike the hand's likely production. And it begs us to think, is one inherently more valuable or "artistic" than the other when their means of production are arguably similar, scaled differently, and yet their combination creates something new? How does this piece make you think about value? Editor: Well, I initially saw it as just a striking image, but you're right; now I'm considering the implied commentary on artistic value, especially how context and materials affect our perceptions. It is also a critique of labor in different art fields... Curator: And how our own consumption habits feed into that economy. That's a fascinating connection! It really showcases how what something is made of impacts how we see and value its purpose, but more than this, how labor enters into it and the hierarchy between craft and fine art is created. Editor: It makes me look at art objects as part of larger economic systems. It makes you appreciate craft! Thank you.