Foot Warmer 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have David S. De Vault's "Foot Warmer," a watercolor and drawing piece made between 1935 and 1942. It's a simple depiction, almost like a technical drawing. What do you see here, considering it's a rendering of a functional object? Curator: I see a deliberate focus on the means of production inherent in everyday life. De Vault emphasizes the craft--the woodworking, the joinery, and even the ventilation holes precisely placed for warmth and air flow. Think about the labor involved in making such an object by hand versus the streamlined production we see today. Where is the place for the handmade in modern society? Editor: That's an interesting point! The detail really brings that handcrafted aspect forward. How does this emphasis on the material and process change how we might usually value art? Curator: Exactly! It disrupts traditional boundaries. We are used to art on a pedestal but pieces such as this show craft as art. This foot warmer depicts something crucial and essential. Art in this instance serves its function outside the "high" art context. Editor: So, the image challenges us to consider how our own needs and material culture inform artistic expression? It's not just aesthetic but functional. Curator: Precisely. Think about how art is enmeshed with domestic needs. Does the depiction challenge our notions of functionality, art and labor in modern production and manufacturing? De Vault forces us to rethink the role of "the artist" as separate from that of a laborer. Editor: I hadn't considered the relationship between labor and artistic expression in that light before. I appreciate seeing something utilitarian celebrated this way! Curator: Indeed, it opens our eyes to what might be missed if we look past the beauty inherent in functional design.