Lunette - Massachusetts State Seal c. 1937

Editor: We’re looking at "Lunette - Massachusetts State Seal," a drawing made around 1937, perhaps a study for a relief sculpture. The geometric arrangement feels quite formal, and the stark contrast between the graphite and paper creates a powerful sense of depth, even illusion of three dimensions. What's your take on this striking image? Curator: It hums with history, doesn't it? Like a stage set for a play we've only heard whispers of. Look at how the artist plays with the idea of a relief, tricking our eye into perceiving different planes, and creating a symbolic space ripe with meaning. I think the work is very beautiful for its elegant simplification, though a bit violent on close look! Are those piles of cannonballs there? Editor: Oh, wow, I didn’t even notice the cannonballs until you pointed them out! What would these various armaments have meant to the artist and the viewer, back in the 1930s? Curator: That's a fascinating question, isn't it? Coming out of the Depression, and on the cusp of another World War, images of state power and military readiness would have resonated in a deeply complex way. Perhaps this is a declaration of strength, a promise of protection, but maybe also, for some, a reminder of inevitable conflict and struggle. What feelings does the arm holding a sword invoke in you? Editor: Honestly? A little uncomfortable. The whole image has this underlying tension now that you mention it. It’s making me rethink my initial impression. Curator: Isn't it wonderful how a piece can shift like that? We start with a surface impression, but delving deeper reveals layers of meaning, inviting us to grapple with our own assumptions and interpretations. I would leave this peace not completely agreeing with its values, but really glad that art invites all sorts of questions! Editor: I'm glad to know a little more behind a coat of arms and a few cannonballs, or what I initially took to be decorative items! Thanks so much for shedding light on that.