Fish Shop Sign 1939

Editor: Here we have Henry Murphy’s "Fish Shop Sign," made with pencil and coloured pencil in 1939. It's a drawing of a fish… the simplicity almost gives it a folk art feel. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let’s consider the title: "Fish Shop Sign." It points us directly to function and its probable placement within a specific economic system. It speaks less about fine art and more about the labour involved in creating and consuming. What kind of labour and materials were needed to both create this image and operate the fish shop itself? Editor: That's a really interesting point – I hadn't thought of the fish shop’s operation as part of the artistic context! It shifts the focus from artistic expression to a broader socio-economic picture. So, the paper, the pencils, the time taken to create this... these are all material costs. Curator: Precisely. And consider the consumers: Who would frequent this fish shop? What social class? Was the creation of this sign considered skilled labour, or just another cost of doing business? Was it part of a larger branding strategy? Think about how the image would signal quality, affordability, or even trustworthiness. Editor: So, it's not just about aesthetic qualities, but also about its use as a tool in a commercial context? That totally changes how I see it. Now I’m curious about other commercial art from that time and the specific materials they used... Curator: Exactly. By investigating these angles, the art transforms from simply a representation to a valuable document. We understand the economic realities and artistic practices within that community.