Corner Cupboard 1935 - 1942

Editor: This watercolor drawing, "Corner Cupboard," was created by Edward A. Darby sometime between 1935 and 1942. It feels very… grounded, in a way. What social commentary do you see in this domestic object being rendered with such care? Curator: Well, Darby's focus on such a functional object during the late Depression era highlights the importance of home and stability during a time of economic hardship. Consider, also, the institutional context: Darby worked for the Index of American Design, a WPA project. These images served a purpose. Editor: A WPA project...so its public role was to document, essentially? To create an archive? Curator: Exactly. But it's more than just documentation. These images helped to promote regional craftsmanship and to reinforce the value of American material culture during a period of national identity formation. Does this shift how you see the piece now? Editor: It does! So, the level of detail isn't just aesthetic; it's about legitimizing this "common" object, making it worthy of study and preservation by the government. Were these images intended to influence contemporary design trends at all? Curator: That’s a compelling thought. The Index served as a visual resource for designers and artisans seeking inspiration in historical forms, although direct evidence is scarce. How might the display context, perhaps in a school or library, shaped public perception? Editor: That's interesting...seeing it as something that isn't just beautiful, but representative of broader cultural narratives about American identity during the 1930s and 40s makes it a lot more interesting! Curator: Precisely. We are compelled to reflect how power intersects even the most mundane aspects of our everyday lives and how something seemingly trivial is not as apolitical as it looks.