Bootjack c. 1939

Curator: I find the stillness of this piece quite striking; there’s an almost meditative quality to it. Editor: Indeed! We’re looking at “Bootjack,” created around 1939 by Chris Makrenos. It’s a drawing rendered in watercolor and colored pencil. At first glance, I am struck by how ordinary it is—an almost reverent focus on the mundane. But then I wonder what purpose a bootjack held in 1939, especially presented with such detailed focus? Curator: Bootjacks historically have signified more than simple utility. Removing boots has always been connected with relaxing at the end of the workday—comfort and status—especially since wearing boots would show someone probably worked outdoors, signifying labor. And they’re often ornamental; a way of subtly displaying one’s tastes and resources. Editor: You're right, and in an era defined by labor struggles and economic hardship, there may be other symbolic significance too. Mass production meant items like this lost their uniqueness, so why depict it in a way that highlights individual craftsmanship? I find it intriguing that Makrenos chooses to isolate and ennoble this specific, beautiful object during this moment in history. What details catch your attention? Curator: The flourishes and curls on the bootjack really grab me. The tendrils bring nature to mind. The item is practical, but here, it’s presented almost like a vine snaking its way up a wall. Also, there is the almost dark, bronzed hue and deep indigo shadows adding depth to what otherwise seems simple. Editor: Yes, there is certainly a crafted, precious quality, further hinting toward personal stories, or perhaps lost legacies. Perhaps Makrenos suggests a subtle commentary on the value we place on everyday tools, transforming an unremarkable object into something almost mythical, weighted with significance from generations who relied on such instruments. Curator: And it’s this connection to the past, the reliance on older ways, and the embrace of simpler items that elevates its deeper meaning. It speaks of a rootedness that persists, even through social and political turbulence. It's a celebration of endurance through the symbols that surround us. Editor: I agree, and pondering how objects become entwined with cultural memory is always so powerful.