Warming Pan 1935 - 1942

This Warming Pan was made by Karl Joubert in the 20th century, although the exact date is unknown. Joubert meticulously rendered this household item in a medium that seems at odds with the object itself, as he used graphite and watercolor on paper, rather than metal and wood. Warming pans were typically used to warm beds in the centuries before central heating. Filled with hot coals, they were slid between the sheets, a domestic ritual that speaks to gendered labor and the making of a home. While seemingly straightforward, Joubert's artistic choice elevates an object of domesticity into the realm of art. This challenges conventional notions of what is deemed worthy of artistic representation and prompts us to reflect on the value we place on everyday objects and experiences. Joubert invites us to consider the quiet dignity of domestic life and labor.