Squab Broiler c. 1942

Editor: We're looking at Francis Jennings' "Squab Broiler," from around 1942. It's an intriguing rendering in ink and watercolor of what looks like a strange, rather medieval cooking contraption. It makes me think about domestic life and historical culinary practices. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm immediately struck by the social context during which Jennings made this piece. World War II was in full swing. There was the massive mobilization of people, women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, and of course rationing. This domestic object rendered with such precision… what does it signify? Editor: That's a fascinating angle. I was so caught up in the visual, the almost scientific, rendering. Were such tools common then, and how might its portrayal reflect the era’s anxieties or priorities? Curator: Precisely. Consider the artist's choice to depict an everyday item with such formal attention, while the world was engulfed in turmoil. Is it an act of preservation, an escape, or perhaps a commentary on the contrast between domesticity and global conflict? Are those skewers somewhat menacing? It appears Jennings completed other works related to the food industry; do we suppose she had some ties there? Editor: That's unsettling! I initially viewed the work in isolation but its wartime context shifts everything. So the Squab Broiler becomes a signifier, maybe of a simpler, less chaotic past that was quickly disappearing. It prompts an interesting conversation on consumption, preservation and resilience during uncertain times. Thank you for that historical framing! Curator: It highlights the vital role of art in reflecting, questioning, and ultimately, shaping our understanding of history. I found our little analysis especially thought provoking, don't you think?