Boot Shop Sign c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Alice Stearns' "Boot Shop Sign," likely created around 1937. It appears to be a combination of drawing and painting techniques, perhaps watercolor and charcoal. There's a certain straightforwardness to it. What catches your eye in terms of interpreting the work's meaning or context? Curator: Well, immediately I’m drawn to considering it beyond just a sign for a shop. Think about the cultural weight of the cowboy boot itself, particularly in 1937. What does this object represent within a wider American narrative, particularly during the Great Depression? Is this an aspirational image? A symbol of resilience, perhaps? Editor: So you're saying it's more than just advertising, that it taps into a broader cultural identity? I hadn't considered the aspirational aspect. Curator: Exactly. And whose aspiration are we talking about? The cowboy myth has always been a complex one, intertwined with ideas of rugged individualism, frontier expansion, and, of course, the displacement and erasure of indigenous communities. How does displaying it change with time? What might the artist be signaling by choosing this specific icon at that specific moment in American history? The clean line quality in the medium could reflect the hope of prosperity but also references the commerciality of the cowboy persona. Editor: That’s fascinating. I was initially seeing it as a fairly simple commercial image, but the connection to larger themes of American identity and economic hardship really reframes it. Thanks for the insight. Curator: Of course. And don't forget to ask yourself: who gets to wear this boot, both literally and metaphorically? Art is a constant conversation across time.