Hitching Post 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is "Hitching Post," a pencil drawing from around 1935-1942. It reminds me a little bit of some Greek or Roman sculpture. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The representation of the horse’s head as a classical form certainly is deliberate. How might the hitching post, as a public object, relate to civic ideals and perhaps even to power structures of the time? Editor: I see your point. The hitching post must have been a really common, everyday object. Why render something so functional with all of these classicizing artistic conventions? Curator: Consider the historical moment. This drawing was made during the Depression era. Images of strength and stability, often rooted in historical precedent, were quite common. It’s also worth asking whether the artist saw any political subtext, by placing them side-by-side: Horses would have related to the working class. Are there ways it served to legitimize power structures or comment on class dynamics during a tumultuous economic period? Editor: So it wasn't just a pretty drawing, but potentially a statement on society? How might the average person at the time interpret the meaning, as they interacted with art? Curator: That is exactly it. Visual art is one lens through which to interpret those conversations, if one wants to try to hear those exchanges happening in culture, or imagine the visual cues to be recognized. Editor: Wow, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Thanks, that really clarifies things! Curator: Glad to help, considering socio-political dimensions and the public’s relationship with art offers valuable perspectives, beyond pure aesthetics, that’s applicable across various historical periods and works.