Hobby Toy c. 1936

Curator: Here we have “Hobby Toy,” a drawing from around 1936 by Du Bois, rendered in graphite and charcoal on paper. Editor: It has a melancholy feel. Something about the grey tones and the direct presentation of this simple rocking horse… It evokes a sense of nostalgia and maybe a bit of loss. Curator: Indeed. Du Bois's focus on such a seemingly ordinary object during the Depression era offers a fascinating perspective. He documented everyday American life. I find it interesting how he isolates this one toy, giving it the presence of sculpture almost. Editor: Absolutely. The isolation really heightens the symbolic weight. Toys are rarely just toys; they're objects loaded with cultural meaning, indicators of childhood, privilege, perhaps even innocence during very difficult times. Curator: Precisely. And in this case, one wonders about the children, about families… The roughness of the wood almost alludes to a sense of forced play, a facade maybe against harsher realities? We're also seeing a burgeoning interest during this time by many American artists to examine industrial material, folk material and American everyday life as a vehicle for artistic representation and for political and social discourse. Editor: And considering Du Bois's own social consciousness, that reading resonates deeply. Was this meant as quiet commentary on escapism through play in times of struggle, or as an acknowledgment of the enduring human spirit? Curator: I suspect a bit of both. I appreciate Du Bois for his understated power, showing an almost documentary approach through the perspective of everyday individuals and circumstances. It forces us to confront difficult realities by representing humble realities. Editor: I'm struck by the way he elevated something so basic. It also allows us, as viewers, to find and project our own significance and memories onto it. So thank you, Du Bois. Curator: Indeed. It speaks volumes through its seeming simplicity, inviting endless dialogue across time and experience.