Shrine for statuette c. 1940

Editor: This is Albert Pratt’s "Shrine for statuette," made around 1940, a drawing done with watercolor and possibly colored pencil. It has this lovely, almost delicate quality to it. What cultural or historical contexts are important in understanding it? Curator: What I find fascinating is considering how Pratt’s rendering engages with broader questions of domestic space and spirituality during this period. Does the choice of rendering a *shrine*, rather than a house or temple, tell us something? What sort of ideology is shaping the understanding of ‘the sacred’ in this period? Editor: That's a great point. The choice of "shrine" feels very deliberate and intimate. Is that a way of grounding sacredness in a more personal sphere? Curator: Precisely! Think about how gender roles influenced the perception of the home as a sacred space, particularly for women. The design looks like something someone would see when reflecting on religion as well. What kind of figure do you think someone might place in that shrine? Editor: Possibly a saint, or perhaps something that represents hope during wartime? I can imagine people projecting diverse aspirations onto the blank interior of the shrine, especially during turbulent times. Curator: Exactly. Consider how the absence of a specific religious figure allows for multiple readings, fostering a personalized sense of faith and identity. Even more interesting, notice the interplay between this drawing and ideas surrounding representation, gender, and spirituality. Does this interplay suggest anything to you? Editor: The colours are muted, it's not exactly a "happy" image, the colour palette feels somber. This image encourages you to find solace in times of war through images that remind us of hope. Curator: I see Pratt's shrine as less about specific figures of worship and more about empowering individual acts of devotion in the face of hardship. Editor: This makes me consider the connection between art, personal belief, and how the turmoil during war influence these beliefs and practices. Curator: Absolutely, this drawing encourages us to find sanctuary and create our own narratives of resistance and resilience in our daily lives.