Crock c. 1937

Curator: Looking at Yolande Delasser’s drawing titled "Crock," created around 1937 using watercolor and charcoal, I’m immediately struck by its humble presence. It’s a simple earthenware vessel, rendered with considerable care. Editor: Yes, a certain somber quality permeates this work. The muted palette, primarily browns and blues, combined with the straightforward composition evokes a feeling of utilitarian simplicity. There is something intrinsically compelling about this rendering of this humble object, though I would love to explore why. Curator: Thinking about the historical moment, the late 1930s were marked by economic hardship and social upheaval. Perhaps Delasser was drawn to the beauty and functionality inherent in everyday objects, a theme common in the art responding to the Depression era. Editor: Delasser lived a long life and produced works during periods of dramatic change. The political implications here reside in the artistic interpretation of labour in art, a frequent visual shorthand in that era. Curator: Absolutely. There's also a question about access to art. This vessel isn’t ornate or precious; it's a working-class object. Editor: So how would we interpret this depiction in the wider social commentary that was brewing with respect to the societal obsession with labour? Curator: Perhaps Delasser saw something essential in these unpretentious forms, a testament to enduring practicality in an era defined by crisis, celebrating utility over luxury. I can't help but to interpret this artwork from a positionality of resisting commodification. Editor: You make an insightful point! Viewing this artwork, now I appreciate more than ever how we assign artistic value based on socio-political cues. Curator: Understanding artworks within the fabric of lived experiences provides such rich perspective, doesn’t it? Editor: It does, and reminds us about the importance of remembering art's inherent social dialogues through all our shared intersectional struggles.