Jug c. 1937

Editor: This is Yolande Delasser’s “Jug,” created around 1937 using watercolor and drawing. The unfinished jug floats above the heavy moth in an interesting dialogue of mediums, one just lines, and one solid. What can you tell me about its cultural and artistic context? Curator: The pairing of objects, and their unfinished rendering, is intriguing. Given its creation around 1937, we might consider the growing anxieties related to social unrest. The jug, a vessel, is rendered as empty or incomplete. The moth is heavy, grounded. Does this then become a commentary on pre-war anxiety? Are we looking at a critique of domesticity, suggested by the jug? Editor: That’s a fascinating reading! So, you are interpreting this not as an abstract experiment but rather through a political and social lens? Curator: Precisely! Considering Delasser's position as a woman artist during this period, this could also be a subtle commentary on the role and limitations placed upon women within the domestic sphere. Are those vessels meant to contain water, nourishment, potential? If empty, is that a commentary on a greater issue? Editor: I hadn't considered the artist's gender and the implied critique of domesticity. That perspective completely shifts the tone! How does this tie into the role of art in society at that time? Curator: During the interwar period, art became increasingly politicized. Artists like Delasser used symbolic imagery and subtle abstraction to express their discontent or anxieties about societal norms and impending political upheaval, often navigating the expectations for the kind of 'proper' imagery to be shown by female artists. The use of a traditional genre—the still life—adds another layer of complexity, questioning established artistic hierarchies and values. Editor: This has made me see the piece in a completely different light. I had originally viewed this work as being apolitical; however, situating “Jug” in its historical and social framework, particularly considering Delasser’s position as a woman, opens up new avenues of meaning! Curator: Exactly! Considering how art interacts with society can dramatically change your viewing experience. Hopefully, the visitors come away with a similar appreciation.