Horse Collar and Hame c. 1938

Curator: I’m immediately drawn to the draftsmanship. Look at the watercolor, graphite, and pencil work—it’s so precise. There's almost an instructional diagram quality here. Editor: Indeed. This drawing, dating from around 1938 by Wilbur M Rice, depicts a horse collar and hame. Its clarity reminds us of the instructional drawings used by the WPA's Index of American Design during the Depression era. These items are humble, farm-related artifacts rendered with loving attention. Curator: And it really isolates form, doesn’t it? See the elegant, elongated U-shape—it’s emphasized against the plain backdrop, allowing the details of the collar to stand out. The texture of the wood is subtly rendered, giving a sense of the object's heft. Editor: That was indeed the point. The Index of American Design sought to record and preserve examples of American material culture at risk of being lost during a time of great social and economic change. It served as a reminder of an agrarian past increasingly supplanted by industrial modernity. Curator: The careful shading definitely lends volume, a tactile quality. Consider the patina suggested in the wood grain. It's quite refined considering its subject. Editor: Refined, but also pragmatic. By showcasing functional objects, the Index validated labor. It suggests inherent beauty in the everyday and speaks to the dignity of those who toiled with these objects. There’s a subtle social commentary embedded here. It transcends a purely formal exercise. Curator: I can certainly agree to that; but even viewed as an abstract form it compels us. There is a graceful and powerful presence to the item and how it is rendered. The geometric forms contained within speak for themselves, so to speak. Editor: Yes, viewing art as evidence—as historical documents of cultural values. Well, it seems we found common ground, and uncovered an appreciation of labor and beautiful shapes.