McHenry Bottle c. 1938

Curator: A single bottle, floating in a sea of pale beige. It has an unexpected warmth. Editor: Precisely. What we're looking at here is a watercolor piece titled "McHenry Bottle," likely created around 1938 by the artist Ralph Atkinson. Curator: Watercolor... remarkable. There’s such command in capturing the bottle’s transparency and solidity using delicate washes. See how the light dances across its surface, hinting at its roundness while maintaining the flat picture plane? It is beautiful. Editor: Its stark realism begs the question of its original context. Atkinson wasn’t just painting a bottle. It’s titled "McHenry," a reference to the McHenry Glass Company, active in the early part of the 20th century, with this bottle design going into production as early as 1902, as inscribed on the object itself. One must consider how advertising culture influenced artists. Did Atkinson intend a commentary on consumerism, or perhaps was commissioned by McHenry? Curator: That context certainly enriches our interpretation, but look at how Atkinson uses warm browns and ambers. The verticality of the bottle emphasizes its static quality and, at the same time, creates a sense of monumentality. It also guides the viewer's eye through all parts of the drawing. Editor: Indeed. Knowing that prohibition was repealed just five years before the likely date of this painting offers additional insights. The McHenry Bottle stands as an almost celebratory symbol. It’s tempting to ask: What were Atkinson’s drinking habits? Who consumed this brand of beverage in that era, and what did this object represent in American social life? Curator: You're giving me too much social weight! As beautiful as the color treatment is, if the symmetry were off, the bottle details sloppy, the message of class consumption wouldn’t shine so brightly. Editor: I think we both have deepened my appreciation for the drawing. Thanks. Curator: Likewise.