Desk Box 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is "Desk Box", a watercolor drawing on wood made between 1935 and 1942 by Francis Borelli. It seems to have this warm, comforting feeling of something crafted with care, but the initials kind of hint at a more personal story. What's your interpretation of this piece? Curator: "Warm, comforting..." that's such a beautiful way to put it! When I look at this piece, I’m immediately transported back to simpler times. The desk box, rendered so meticulously, reminds me of treasured heirlooms. I wonder what those initials, "S.O.P.", stand for... perhaps the artist, or a loved one? What feelings do you get from the materials, specifically the wood grain? Editor: That makes a lot of sense, that they might be the initials of a loved one. As for the wood grain, it feels like it wants to tell a story. Like each groove has a memory attached. Is that how you see it as well? Curator: Absolutely! And that watercolor technique gives it such a soft, nostalgic glow, doesn't it? There's a gentle tension between the precision of the rendering and the dreamy quality of the watercolor. I almost feel like I'm peering into someone's cherished memories. Editor: So, beyond being just a box, it becomes almost a vessel of memory? Curator: Exactly. It speaks to the power of objects to hold meaning and transport us. I love how a simple box can whisper such profound stories. Editor: That is really true. I never would have looked at the art this way had it not been explained, I am still learning. Thank you for your amazing and valuable insight on this drawing. Curator: My pleasure entirely!