Metal Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is "Metal Weather Vane," created sometime between 1935 and 1942 by an anonymous artist, rendered in drawing and colored pencil. It has the worn, almost distressed feel of an antique object. What speaks to you most about this piece? Curator: Immediately, I see the inherent tension between high art and functional object. We have a common, almost mass-produced item – a weather vane – meticulously rendered with colored pencil and drawing. This begs the question: what commentary is being made about labor, production, and perhaps even consumption during that period? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It does seem to elevate the mundane, but I'm unsure if that was the intent. Curator: Well, look at the materials and the technique. The use of drawing and colored pencil, mediums often associated with preparatory sketches or more "humble" art forms, contrasts sharply with the sturdiness we associate with a metal weather vane. The piece becomes not just a depiction, but an exploration of materiality itself. Think about the societal conditions: was there a movement towards valuing craftsmanship over industrial production during that period that might explain this choice of material? Editor: Possibly. It was a time of great change. Could it be seen as a commentary on the divide between rural and urban life too? Curator: Precisely. Weather vanes are inherently rural, tied to agricultural societies. To render it in a delicate medium challenges that context, perhaps speaking to a changing relationship with rural traditions, especially at a time when industrialization was impacting American life. The very act of observing and documenting a mundane object makes the artist engage with its physical properties in an unusual way. Editor: So, we are not just viewing a picture of a weather vane. We are analyzing how its existence and reproduction are shaped by cultural forces. It definitely provides a perspective beyond the aesthetic impression of its patina. Curator: Indeed. By examining the materials and their usage, we unearth a richer story than simply looking at the subject itself. It highlights the human agency in how objects come to mean different things within specific social frameworks.