Waffle Iron c. 1938

Editor: So, we're looking at "Waffle Iron," a pencil drawing from around 1938 by Therkel Anderson. It feels very... utilitarian, but almost reverential at the same time. I’m curious: What stands out to you about it? Curator: The subject matter immediately grabs me. Why elevate a common, mass-produced kitchen tool to the level of art? Anderson is making us consider the everyday objects we often overlook, products of industrial labor and design, things that shape our lives through consumption. Think about the materials: pencil on paper. What could that suggest in terms of artistic value compared to, say, oil on canvas? Editor: I hadn’t really considered that—the choice of materials almost levels the playing field, in a way. Curator: Exactly. And look at the detail Anderson chose to render. The embossed patterns, the makers’ marks, perhaps even a family monogram – are they celebrating the skill and labor that went into crafting the original iron? What statements about craft production in that era can we discern from that approach? Editor: The drawing emphasizes those decorative details. It shifts my perspective from the waffle it produces, to how it's constructed and its history. The use of pencil even makes me consider the hand of the artist at work documenting this. Curator: Precisely! It challenges the hierarchy between high art and functional design. It speaks volumes about production and consumption. What initially felt 'utilitarian' reveals layers of social and economic commentary through its very materiality. Editor: That's fascinating. Now I'm seeing it less as a still life and more as a comment on consumer culture. I really appreciate how analyzing the medium gives it so much meaning! Curator: It just shows us that examining everyday materials can give extraordinary insights.