Purse c. 1938

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to Ralph Atkinson’s "Purse," a watercolor and colored pencil drawing dating from about 1938. Editor: I'm immediately struck by the interplay of colors—that rich emerald green against the soft rose interior is quite something, and the diagonal lines intersecting on the purse give it some interesting facets. Curator: Indeed. The purse depicted here, while seemingly a simple object, speaks volumes about the socio-economic status and aspirations of women during the late 1930s. Accessorizing with a stylish purse reflected one's place within consumer culture and adherence to particular social roles. Editor: You know, beyond its social context, there's also an appealing balance in its form. The way Atkinson rendered the textures, you can almost feel the difference between the smooth leather and the textured fabric inside, it's a feast for the eyes when we are attuned to noticing those kinds of formal relations. Curator: I would say this specific shade of green for the exterior resonates with both the opulence often associated with this color, especially regarding status, and notions tied to labor. This becomes increasingly nuanced considering that, at the time, notions of work and luxury intersected, affecting working-class women trying to emulate bourgeois aspirations and self-image. Editor: Absolutely. And notice the elegant detailing around the opening—a fine line of metallic pigment suggests luxury while maintaining restraint. I'd also argue that its relative simplicity emphasizes the fundamental geometric shapes in play—rectangles, triangles, and subtly curved lines harmoniously coexisting. Curator: What Atkinson offers, through this meticulous rendering, is more than an aesthetic object. It’s an open question, an archive prompting viewers to examine the complex network of meanings imbued in a seemingly everyday object from a very particular moment in history. Editor: It's a compelling dialogue, isn't it? I started with a simple appreciation for color and line, but I am left contemplating an item so intimately interwoven with questions of its historical era. Curator: And for me, understanding that it’s not just a purse, but a symbol loaded with socio-economic meaning makes viewing all the more insightful and relevant.