Iron Griddle c. 1938

Curator: Here, we have Joseph Papa’s "Iron Griddle," a pencil drawing dating to approximately 1938. Editor: My immediate response is to the humbleness of it. There is an elegance in this simple kitchen tool, yet something about it speaks to scarcity. Curator: I’m intrigued by your read. Considering the late 1930s, the artwork aligns with the era’s social realism—it is crucial to acknowledge the context of the Great Depression. Papa’s choice is rooted in documenting everyday life. Editor: Exactly! And I think the drawing’s materiality echoes the reality of limited resources. Look at the use of pencil and toned paper: they’re accessible and cheap to acquire, mirroring the experience of the working class. This piece brings the domestic into the forefront. What labor, what histories of cooking, what meals might have been made on it? Curator: Right. We might see the "Iron Griddle" as representative of domesticity during a difficult period, a symbol of the essential, yet often invisible, work predominantly done by women, reflecting how traditional gender roles were reinforced, but simultaneously highlighting resilience. Editor: Also consider the making itself. The sketch captures a mundane object elevated by focused observation. I can feel the hand that drew it; labor depicted is translated through the labor of artmaking. How long did the rendering take? Curator: Certainly, the act of drawing itself elevates the subject and, by extension, perhaps acknowledges the labor embedded within. Editor: I now understand more the choice behind the object itself, but also the media to create a document that represents the need and struggle of the people of that era. Curator: Precisely. Now, viewing Papa’s “Iron Griddle”, it takes on more profound significance, providing insight into social dynamics in a period marked by scarcity.