Crock c. 1937 - 1938

Editor: We're looking at Yolande Delasser's "Crock," a watercolor and colored pencil drawing from around 1937. It depicts a crock above what seem to be stylized blossoms. I'm struck by its simple, almost playful composition. What do you see in this piece, particularly from a formalist perspective? Curator: Formally, this drawing is quite interesting. Note the careful arrangement of shapes and the limited, almost monochromatic, palette. The interplay between the geometric form of the crock and the more organic, biomorphic shapes below creates a subtle tension. The "4" emblazoned on the crock interrupts any illusion, which is further contrasted by the flowers below it that are placed in similar positions to those on the crock. What effect do you think that has? Editor: It seems like Delasser is playing with positive and negative space, mirroring the decorative elements from the utilitarian object in her rendering of the plants, highlighting that even decorative craft is an arrangement of space and shape. It all feels so carefully considered. Curator: Precisely. The deliberate flatness of the composition also pushes us to consider the picture plane as a constructed space rather than a window onto reality. Consider the watercolor's inherent transparency against the coloured-pencil, building depth, layer upon layer. In light of semiotics, we must read beyond representation toward an appreciation of pure pictorial relations and structure. Do you agree with this interpretation? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way before, but now I appreciate the intentionality behind its seeming simplicity. I see how analyzing the forms themselves unlocks a deeper understanding. Curator: It’s precisely through a focus on its structural components that the artwork yields deeper meanings and allows us, the viewers, to see beyond what the artist meant and allows our eye to create something beautiful for our understanding of art and craft.