Bristle Remover for Hogs 1939

Curator: This watercolor and pencil drawing, titled "Bristle Remover for Hogs," was created by Frank Volem in 1939. It depicts, quite literally, an object used to remove bristles from hogs. Editor: It's odd, isn't it? Isolated like this. At first glance, I thought it was some sort of antique doctor's tool, with a certain solemnity to its presentation despite the… practical application implied by the title. The colors are muted, almost nostalgic. Curator: Exactly. It speaks volumes about the relationship between artistic representation and labor. The everyday tools, those implements of work, are hardly considered worthy of our attention, or perhaps even deemed beautiful. Editor: But there’s a dignity in Volem's rendering, isn't there? Look at how meticulously he captures the wood grain of the handle, the slightly worn texture of the metal. It transforms a utilitarian object into something almost revered, or perhaps just worthy of deep reflection. Curator: I'd agree. During the period, drawings and watercolors like this had a distinct purpose. They formed a visual record of a changing nation, documenting material culture as it either faded away, or was about to. The focus was less about individual artistry and more about contributing to an archive of things, customs, labor, places. Editor: I see that. So it’s both a celebration of craft and an elegiac gesture toward a disappearing world? Sort of like how my grandmother always saved every single piece of string because "you never know when you might need it". There is some deep resonance to it. Curator: It strikes me that in the grand scheme of art history, sometimes it’s the quiet, unassuming works that offer the most poignant insights. A humble object rendered with such care transcends its original purpose and opens up dialogues about labor, progress, and how we find beauty in the mundane. Editor: Beautifully put! Yes, an unexpected journey, a quiet celebration. It is more beautiful the longer I look at it.