Shine A Nickel 1932

Curator: Cecil C. Bell's etching, "Shine A Nickel," completed in 1932, depicts a bustling city street scene. Editor: It strikes me immediately as stark and a bit bleak, the strong contrast and the subject matter conjure up a sense of economic hardship. There's a kind of desperation etched into the scene. Curator: Observe the symbolic weight carried by the objects in the frame: a newspaper, hinting at current events and social narratives, sits in the patron's hands, while coins scattered near the boy seem almost sacred in their meager offering. Editor: It’s interesting how you read the coins as sacred. I see them more as emblems of systemic inequity, small change sustaining an unjust social order. The man having his shoes shined embodies that order; the boy on his knees is a clear symbol of the desperation the Depression forced on children. Curator: It could be both. This image recalls similar depictions in earlier genre paintings of everyday life but framed now with awareness of historical context. Consider the presence of a dog at the lower right as well, acting as an almost archetypal image of fidelity amidst the social scene. Editor: True, animals often represent loyalty or companionship. But even that feels tinged with sadness. The whole scene suggests that even affection feels like a luxury during these tough times. It is worth mentioning that the EXIT sign looms above the subjects of this work. This has particular impact considering that this piece of art was made during The Great Depression in America. Curator: That exit sign holds profound implications indeed. Considering the architectural vernacular of that exit, with its straight edges and sharp lines, contrasting with the rest of the curvature visible in the frame... Do you agree that speaks to the modern push to the future even if this era seemed mired in tragedy? Editor: Definitely, I see this "Shine A Nickel" etching as a critical representation of American society grappling with the chasm between economic classes. I really appreciate the way you framed the importance of certain shapes throughout this work, revealing different possibilities for progress during the 1930s. Curator: And for me, thinking about Bell’s use of objects and imagery brings forward the enduring power of symbolic representations in our shared visual lexicon, highlighting history’s ongoing conversation with the present.