Small Pie Plate c. 1939

Editor: Here we have Carl Buergerniss's watercolor drawing, "Small Pie Plate," created around 1939. I'm struck by the earthiness of the colors and the simple geometric shapes. It feels so humble, yet carefully rendered. What do you make of this piece? Curator: You know, it’s funny, I see it and I think of a simple supper, perhaps shared on a warm evening. There's a casualness to the work. I imagine the artist seeing this plate – maybe it held a family recipe, a special memory – and wanting to capture its quiet beauty. Do you think that watercolor as a medium contributes to this sense? Editor: Definitely. Watercolor gives it a delicate, almost ephemeral quality, like a fleeting moment. Unlike, say, oils, watercolor feels immediate. So much of the visual language, like with geometric forms or line weights, makes this stand apart. What do you think its significance lies? Curator: Maybe it's in appreciating the everyday. In the late 30s, people were likely focused on other things than celebrating simple objects. Buergerniss maybe found some joy and some inspiration, perhaps in stark contrast to the socio-historical context of the time. It’s as if he’s saying, "Here’s something good, something real, right in front of us." Editor: That's really beautiful – a celebration of the mundane. I hadn't considered the historical context and how it might have influenced the artist's intentions. Curator: Exactly! Art is so amazing and enriching as it's really never just *about* what's on the surface. Editor: I agree; thinking about the pie plate as a symbol of simple pleasures amidst a complex world definitely gives me a deeper appreciation for it. Thanks for sharing that.