Bellows c. 1941

Editor: This is "Bellows," a watercolor and drawing by Florence Milto, made around 1941. It's such an interesting choice of subject matter. I mean, a bellows? What stands out to me is its stillness and the detail on an otherwise utilitarian object. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, it's intriguing that Milto chose a bellows during a period of great upheaval, just before the US entered World War II. Everyday objects were often elevated, perhaps as a form of quiet resistance or a search for solace. Do you notice the deliberate focus on craft, reflected in the meticulously rendered details of the bellows? Editor: I do, yeah! The way the light catches the wood grain, the textures... So, you’re suggesting that focusing on something hand-crafted during wartime might have been a form of commentary? Curator: Precisely. It makes me wonder if Milto was drawn to the bellows as a symbol of the domestic sphere, a space of creativity and control at a time when both were threatened. Also, consider that such representations provided the general public a point of reflection about labor itself. What do you suppose the target public would have appreciated in a scene depicting "tools"? Editor: Huh. I guess, it is kind of saying that even the simplest, most 'functional' things can be beautiful. I wouldn’t have thought about the social implications that way! Curator: Exactly, and that's where understanding the historical context truly enriches our understanding of art. It moves beyond pure aesthetics. Editor: Thanks, I have a whole new perspective on it now.