Revolving Pistol c. 1936

Curator: Well, hello there, partner. What catches my eye right off the bat is the… delicacy, I guess, of the linework against this inherently violent object. Editor: Violence softened, perhaps? Before us, we have a drawing titled "Revolving Pistol" rendered around 1936 by Erwin Schwabe. He chose colored pencil, pencil and what looks like charcoal to bring this deadly object to life on paper. It definitely brings a lot to the table... a visual meditation, almost, on the machinery of power and intimidation. Curator: Intimidation... yeah, definitely intimidation. I mean, the piece stares at you. The artist focused and froze an emblem of a specific kind of power. I also feel it's interesting that Erwin chose pencils of various kinds. It makes the image a study, an assessment or meditation instead of a glorification. What do you think? Editor: The very fact it's a drawing rather than the real object does remove a certain... immediacy? Though let's not forget that for centuries weaponry has often been ornamented. In this drawing the curves are an attempt, maybe, at defanging violence itself, a bit like making friends with it through ornament? It does reflect something deeper about how cultures handle tools of force. What's interesting, though, is the barrel— Curator: Is crammed, it has a lot to answer for... Editor: Right! Seven chambers instead of the traditional six… there's something of excess there, isn't there? almost comical... Curator: Like society needing an 'extra' chamber. An added level of fear? Anyway, Schwabe didn't romanticize violence. I feel a heavy melancholy instead. It does invite the thought to meditate. It speaks to an odd human tendency, and not as some power fantasy but as the source of shame. What do you think, our listeners can think deeper and do better... no? Editor: Indeed, a very poignant perspective. Hopefully it will trigger a deeper analysis with more of you today!