Silver Wine Tumbler 1935 - 1942

Vincent Carano made this silver wine tumbler using graphite on paper. The simplicity of the drawing invites us to consider the social and cultural importance of even the most mundane objects. We know that Carano was working in America in the early to mid-20th century, a time of industrial expansion and increasing consumerism. The tumbler, as a symbol of refinement and taste, reflects the aspirations of a society that was rapidly changing. Wine, historically associated with European aristocracy, was becoming more accessible to the American middle class. The artist has left us with a historical artifact and starting point. To more fully understand this artwork, we might ask: was Carano commenting on these social shifts? Was he celebrating the democratization of luxury, or perhaps critiquing the values of a society increasingly focused on material goods? By examining historical records, advertisements, and other cultural artifacts from the period, we can gain a deeper understanding of the image and what it meant to its contemporary audience.