Cider or Water Jug 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Yolande Delasser’s "Cider or Water Jug," a drawing of an earthenware piece created sometime between 1935 and 1942. What immediately grabs me is its grounded feel; it seems like a study of everyday life. How do you interpret this work, especially given the historical context? Curator: Well, it's tempting to see this simply as a neutral rendering, but drawings like this often served a purpose within specific social and institutional frameworks. The depiction of everyday objects was, during this period, caught in a tension between celebrating Americana and more documentary impulses born from, for instance, New Deal programs focusing on the value and recording of local cultures and craft. Given the inscription "St. John Austin, 1847," this might be seen as a recording of an historical piece for future appreciation. Does that influence how we appreciate Delasser’s intent and her eventual public? Editor: That’s fascinating. So you’re suggesting the drawing itself could be a kind of archival practice? Was there an audience for it outside, say, the artist's immediate circle? Curator: Absolutely. Remember, the cultural value we ascribe to "folk art" or "historical artifacts" isn't inherent. These values are actively constructed through specific social and cultural processes. The inclusion of geometric patterns and a date indicates its perceived cultural value. Drawings like this potentially prepared these items for later interpretation within museum settings or cultural heritage projects, thus reinforcing a particular narrative about history and craft. Editor: I never considered that someone drew this so that someone else would put the object in a museum. I see the artist's social agency differently now, too! Thanks! Curator: Exactly, that awareness changes our understanding! Considering that possibility definitely enriches the viewing experience.