Ice Skate 1937

Clarence Secor made this drawing of an ice skate out of graphite and colored pencil. The image invites us to consider the social and cultural context of leisure activities around the turn of the 20th century. The skate appears worn, suggesting regular use and the pleasures of winter recreation. In this period, industrialization had brought changes in working patterns and leisure time, so we might wonder about who had the opportunity for leisure and who did not. The drawing captures the texture and form of the wooden and metal skate, which would have been a common sight in northern climates. But the meticulous rendering suggests something more than mere documentation; it elevates a functional object to the level of art. This echoes the Arts and Crafts movement’s focus on handmade objects as a reaction to mass-produced goods, and we might wonder whether Secor was making a subtle comment on the changing values of his time. To fully understand this work, we might delve into archives to explore the history of leisure in America and the rise of sporting culture. The meaning of this seemingly simple drawing lies in the rich social and institutional context that surrounds it.