Piggin c. 1937

Editor: This is "Piggin," a watercolor and charcoal drawing by Max Soltmann from around 1937. It's quite a simple piece – a detailed depiction of a wooden bucket. What strikes me most is its directness; it seems to present a common, everyday object in an almost monumental way. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What I see here is an interesting interplay between art and social history. We need to think about why someone in 1937, during the depths of the Great Depression, would choose to depict a simple object like this. Was it an exercise in form? Or could it be seen as an implicit comment on the economic hardships of the time, where humble objects became increasingly valuable? Consider the broader artistic movements of the 1930s—Regionalism and Social Realism. Does this work resonate with those movements at all, in its focus on the everyday life of the common person? Editor: That's a thought-provoking point. Perhaps the choice of such an unadorned object during a period of economic hardship implies a commentary on the value of simplicity and functionality over ornamentation. Is there a tension with how the object is displayed as opposed to how it would be utilized? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question the role of art institutions in elevating these ordinary objects to the realm of artistic contemplation. Who decides what is worthy of being displayed, and what biases might be at play in that selection process? It's a fascinating insight into the socio-political aspects inherent in displaying even the most seemingly neutral art. What’s also intriguing is the artist’s decision to use both watercolor and charcoal; do you think the materiality adds anything to the reading of the image? Editor: It is fascinating! I hadn't considered the social implications so deeply before. Thinking about how museums shape our perceptions of everyday objects gives me a fresh perspective on art as a cultural artifact. Curator: Absolutely. Art isn't just about aesthetics; it's deeply intertwined with the social fabric in which it's created and viewed.