Pitcher 1935 - 1942

S. Brodsky created this delicate drawing of a pitcher, using graphite and colored pencil on paper. The image, with its emphasis on line and form, speaks to the enduring influence of academic artistic training, probably dating to the mid-20th century. Brodsky's precise rendering of light and shadow recalls the exercises used in art schools to teach students how to accurately represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. But beyond mere technical skill, the choice of such a commonplace object, removed from any specific context, suggests an interest in the abstract qualities of form and design, perhaps reflecting the influence of modernism and its focus on the essential elements of art. To fully understand this work, we might consult the archives of art schools and teaching manuals. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.