Pewter Coffee Pot c. 1937

Editor: Here we have Dana Bartlett’s "Pewter Coffee Pot," circa 1937, rendered in watercolor and drawing. It’s a simple subject, yet the artist really captured the reflective qualities of the pewter. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Well, on the surface, it's a very straightforward depiction of an everyday object. But, during the 1930s, the New Deal art projects, such as the Index of American Design, really encouraged artists to document and celebrate American craftsmanship. It was about creating a sense of national identity during the Great Depression. Editor: So, it's less about the coffee pot itself and more about what it represents? Curator: Exactly. Think about who owned and used such an object. It speaks to a certain class, a certain lifestyle. And then consider the context of the Depression, and this careful recording of a seemingly mundane item takes on a new meaning. It becomes a statement about preserving American ideals. Editor: I see. So the very act of choosing this subject matter, at this moment in history, makes it political in a way? Curator: Precisely. And consider the labor invested, not just in creating the physical object, but also in this careful depiction. The artist's choice of watercolor lends a delicate quality to what might otherwise seem like an industrial metal. It asks us to see beauty in the everyday. What do you make of the reflections rendered using watercolor and drawing mediums? Editor: I didn't initially consider the choice of materials in that light. It's fascinating how this piece encapsulates so much of its time. Curator: It truly does. And these objects continue to reflect values based on their own evolving historic context. Editor: Thanks. I'll never look at a coffee pot the same way again.