Lantern c. 1939

Editor: So this is "Lantern" by Albert Allen, created around 1939. It's a watercolor and charcoal drawing, and what immediately strikes me is the almost photorealistic depiction of this utilitarian object. It’s isolated, presented for our scrutiny. What narratives do you see embedded in this seemingly simple still life? Curator: This work really speaks to the politicization of everyday imagery. Consider the period: the late 1930s were steeped in socio-economic hardship with the tail end of The Great Depression, a period shaped by the public role of imagery for morale-boosting purposes. Ask yourself, what does this perfectly ordinary object, depicted with such deliberate care, represent at that particular moment in time? Is this celebration, perhaps, of proletarian life and labour? Editor: I never thought of it in terms of proletarian celebration, I’ve only considered the lantern in terms of rural America; however, that raises questions about its audience and purpose. Was Allen commissioned? How was it circulated, or was it simply made in observation? Curator: Exactly! Those are precisely the right questions. The role of public institutions, like the WPA or even the galleries displaying such works, played a huge role in shaping its reception. Was this artwork initially shown in an urban setting to those unfamiliar with such rudimentary objects, for example? That lens dictates interpretation. Editor: So it’s about considering not just the object itself, but how its meaning changes depending on the environment it inhabits – the social and political context. Fascinating! I initially saw it as an object but it embodies something more. Curator: Precisely. The politics of imagery, even in what appears to be the simplest of forms, are always in play. Thinking about where it has been is how to think about where it could be heading in the future, too. Editor: Thanks! Thinking about that adds so much depth to how I can understand and appreciate Allen’s “Lantern”.