Latch 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Geoffrey Holt's "Latch," created sometime between 1935 and 1942, using watercolor and drawing techniques. It's a peculiar piece. So simple, but also makes you wonder about functionality. How do you interpret this work? Curator: That’s an excellent question! While seemingly mundane, this realistic depiction of a latch tells a more significant story. Think about the 1930s and 40s, the time of its creation. What do you associate with that era socially and economically? Editor: The Great Depression and the rise of industrialization come to mind. Curator: Exactly! Consider the socio-economic landscape. Holt's decision to portray such a commonplace object elevates the everyday, turning it into a subject worthy of artistic attention. What could that suggest about art’s function during this time? Editor: Perhaps it’s about finding beauty in the ordinary or commenting on the functionality that was necessary? The latch is also sort of old fashioned, and it might point to simpler times. Curator: Precisely! The medium, watercolor, further softens what could be cold metal. Also consider where an image like this may have circulated. Was it for public display? To encourage the celebration of simpler times or a tool needed by everyday people, for farms perhaps? Editor: I didn't even consider the ways it connects with economic changes! It makes me look at "Latch" in a new way, considering how it connects to history. Curator: These glimpses of the past enrich our experience with art!