Glass 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is “Glass,” a watercolor drawing by John Dana, created sometime between 1935 and 1942. I'm struck by how solid the glass appears, even though it's created with delicate watercolors. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's compelling how Dana captures this seemingly mundane object during a time of significant social upheaval. Consider the dates – the late Depression era, edging into World War II. Everyday domesticity takes on a heightened meaning. This single, empty glass, rendered in such stark isolation… What narratives do you think Dana might be suggesting? Editor: It's interesting you bring that up, because the redness makes me think of wine, celebration, or even blood and sacrifice, especially during wartime, but the fact that it is also empty introduces a void. Perhaps a void, post-celebration? Curator: Exactly. What power dynamics are in play here? Who would own such a glass? Is it a symbol of privilege, resilience, or perhaps a yearning for simpler times, or for an illusion that class distinctions were being leveled. The watercolor medium itself— traditionally associated with delicacy and domesticity—takes on a quiet strength, mirroring the silent fortitude of people living through difficult circumstances. Editor: So, looking at it through this lens, it challenges this expectation of a glass object as just an ordinary item? It kind of makes me see it more politically. Curator: Precisely. Objects are never neutral. They carry the weight of their time, the imprint of their makers and owners, and the potential for diverse interpretations. Even in something as simple as a glass, Dana invites us to contemplate the intersections of class, conflict, and the quiet beauty of the everyday. Editor: I will never see a glass the same way again. Thank you, it really opened my eyes! Curator: And thank you. Considering these ordinary items helps reveal how the weight of history is actually borne and shaped.