Vase c. 1937

Curator: It's striking, isn't it? I’m immediately drawn to its color; such a rich, almost regal purple. Editor: This work, simply titled "Vase", was created around 1937 by Janet Riza. What’s fascinating here is Riza’s choice of rendering an everyday object – a vase – through drawing and watercolor. Curator: You know, the use of watercolor is really interesting. It has a way of giving objects an ethereal quality, like we’re not quite grasping the actual weight or substance of this vase. It’s a purple haze of material. Editor: Indeed. One might consider this a visual document, placing this specific vase and, by extension, decorative arts of the period, within a fine art context. It's making a claim for the artistic value of objects often relegated to the domestic sphere. And it raises questions about access to artistic expression during the period. Who was consuming such images and what purpose did they serve? Curator: Absolutely, the act of depiction itself transforms the object. And it's intriguing to ponder about Riza’s labor. Were they commissioned, or was this part of their independent artistic investigation into form and color using easily accessible drawing and watercolor techniques? What does this act say about their relationship to both art and the decorative arts industries? Editor: We can observe academic art influence on the precision. I wonder about the exhibition culture. Could an image like this be on display, what were the standards? Curator: Yes, and look at the almost clinical detail! The texture isn’t quite there. I am more compelled to thinking of a preliminary plan. Editor: Perhaps. Overall, examining art this way invites a look at both high art and craft with equal interest. It broadens our understanding of artistic hierarchies and labor distribution in the late 1930s. Curator: Precisely, thinking about Riza's practice brings the socio-economics into the interpretation of her art and material selections, giving a more holistic understanding of creativity. Editor: Looking closer certainly enriches my perspective about artwork beyond aesthetics! Thank you!