Amethyst Glass Bowl c. 1940

Editor: Here we have "Amethyst Glass Bowl," a watercolor and drawing created around 1940 by V.L. Vance. I find the rendering of the glass almost dreamlike, that particular shade of purple... It’s got a strangely melancholic feel to it, yet it’s also such a simple, everyday object. What's your take on it? Curator: The choice to represent such a humble, domestic object in watercolor during this period is significant. It reflects a moment when the artistic gaze started to focus on the everyday. Consider how the 'domestic' sphere was racialized and gendered. How might Vance’s gender and perhaps race have affected the way she interacted with these objects and what they may have represented in mid-20th century America? What histories are brought up by a domestic object rendered in such delicate detail? Editor: So, it's about shifting perspective to make the ordinary worth celebrating? Like elevating the daily rituals of home life? Curator: Absolutely. But who got to define those rituals? Who was left out of these seemingly simple watercolor depictions of middle-class existence? The seemingly innocuous purple becomes an entry point for these discussions, especially if one recalls its historical connections to royalty, or spiritualism. The object almost takes on an unsettling yet fragile presence in this context. What purpose do you imagine this image could serve beyond aesthetic pleasure? Editor: It makes me think about visibility and who has historically been deemed worthy of being seen, even through something as simple as depicting their belongings. Is there a commentary here on whose experiences are being valorized, and whose are being erased or overlooked? Curator: Precisely. By paying close attention to its material history and representational politics, this piece invites us to reflect on what it means to depict, to own, and to be included in broader societal narratives. The act of painting this single bowl transforms into a wider act of interrogation about society at the time. Editor: This has completely shifted my understanding! It’s no longer just a pretty bowl; it’s a conversation starter. Thank you. Curator: Indeed. Art often holds multiple layers, inviting dialogue and prompting us to reconsider our place within historical narratives.