Cream Pitcher c. 1936

Editor: So, here we have Janet Riza's "Cream Pitcher" from around 1936, a pencil drawing of, well, a cream pitcher. I’m struck by its simplicity. What can you tell us about it? Curator: This piece offers us a window into the representation of domesticity in art during the 1930s. How might a seemingly simple image of a cream pitcher reflect broader social values and ideals of that period? Editor: That's a great question. I guess it makes me wonder about the role of design and everyday objects as reflections of societal aspirations. Curator: Precisely. Consider also how the act of drawing, of meticulously rendering an everyday object, elevates it. Does this act change our relationship to the pitcher? In what way might the artist’s careful representation speak to the changing roles of women in design or craft during this time? Editor: Hmm, interesting point about elevating the object. It definitely makes me consider how something functional can also be art, depending on the context and the intent. Curator: And further, who was this art *for*? Was this for an exhibition, or study for mass-produced goods? Who *could* afford fine tableware during the depression, and what does depicting *this* pitcher tell us about who Janet Riza’s audience was? Editor: I hadn't even thought about it that way. The economic backdrop of the 1930s completely changes my perspective on this seemingly simple image. It invites all kinds of reflections. Curator: Exactly! The power of art, I find, lies in revealing hidden narratives behind what we often overlook. It has opened our understanding in a totally unexpected and welcome way. Editor: Agreed! It is truly amazing to consider the story that this object, seemingly very straightforward at first glance, holds about art, social classes and gender roles.