Bowl c. 1939

Editor: So, this is Isidore Steinberg's "Bowl," created around 1939. It's rendered in watercolor and drawing on paper, depicting what appears to be a glass bowl. I’m really struck by the level of detail used to depict a seemingly simple object. What jumps out at you when you look at this piece? Curator: For me, it’s the artistic labor invested in depicting a common, functional object, a glass bowl. Look at the meticulous shading and highlighting – the way Steinberg painstakingly recreates the material qualities of glass. I immediately wonder: why this choice of subject and medium? Was it an exploration of consumer culture, perhaps? Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t considered it in that light. I just saw it as, well, a nice picture of a bowl! So, the act of creating the artwork itself is the point, challenging typical expectations of artistic subjects? Curator: Precisely. Think about the historical context. This was around the time of the Great Depression. Depicting a mass-produced object like a glass bowl in a handcrafted medium like watercolor could be a commentary on industrialization, accessibility and artistic skill, asking us to reconsider what we value in art and society. Consider also that paper was likely a more affordable medium during this period than canvas or sculpture. Editor: So it's not just a bowl; it’s about the labor, the materials, and the statement being made by elevating everyday objects through art during that period. That totally changes how I see it! Curator: Indeed. By focusing on the bowl's material reality and the conditions of its making - both the glass itself, and Steinberg's rendition - we are invited to think about how art reflects and shapes our relationship with objects and consumption. Editor: I'm going to remember to consider material and labor much more closely when looking at art from now on. Curator: And I will try not to overthink things at times, thank you!