Goblet c. 1939

Curator: This is "Goblet," a pencil drawing completed around 1939 by Michael Fenga. What's your first impression? Editor: Simple, clean...a bit like a quiet Sunday afternoon. The goblet feels almost photographic, but the medium adds this touch of delicacy. Does it make anyone else thirsty, or is that just me? Curator: It's interesting you mention the "photographic" quality. The social realism movement, popular at the time, valued accuracy and accessibility in depicting everyday objects, suggesting artists were connecting fine art with everyday realities of working classes. Editor: Makes sense! There’s also something almost architectural in how the light and shadows play off the geometric cuts of the glass. It's like a tiny, transparent building. Gives the piece more complexity than you first think, like a metaphor for how everyday items often hold hidden depths. Curator: Right, and we can't overlook how still life, especially during periods of economic hardship like the late '30s, allowed artists to explore form and beauty without relying on expensive materials or models. There was a democratization in art's production happening as well as portrayal. Editor: And I feel the quiet mood might reflect that period as well, with the world gearing up for some turbulent changes. Maybe the stillness is an observation and contrast from that unrest. Though now I just think of toasts at quiet family dinners with lovely crystal! Curator: Yes, such a piece invites varied interpretations of object depiction through accessible methods that made art more inclusive during that time. Thank you for your rich ideas. Editor: It's fascinating how a simple glass can hold so much history. Art teaches to keep our eye keen in seeing complexity within simple scenes!