Tie-back c. 1940

Editor: Here we have Chris Makrenos's "Tie-back," made around 1940, using watercolor and drawing. It's deceptively simple, just these two gilded looking objects against a plain background, yet so meticulously rendered. What’s your take on it? Curator: Well, immediately the visual echoes resonate with me. We see a clear duality, a "flower" and a "screw," almost allegorical in their presentation. Consider the flower—a symbol of beauty, nature, often feminine ideals. Now, juxtapose that with the screw: industrial, functional, hinting at construction and traditionally masculine roles. Editor: Interesting… So you're saying it’s more than just a decorative study? Curator: Indeed! Think of how domestic spaces were conceived and organized around 1940. The tie-back held curtains, controlling light, dictating privacy, creating interior "worlds". Makrenos places it front and center, as though it were a silent guardian. Editor: I see... and the screw then? Is that representing the hidden labor in constructing such a domestic "world?" Curator: Precisely! The unseen efforts required to maintain beauty and order. But ask yourself, where does ornament end, and function begin? Aren't both these elements beautiful in their design and essential? Perhaps it highlights a longing for unity, for finding beauty even in mundane functionality. Editor: That's given me so much to think about. It’s amazing how a seemingly simple image can hold such layered meanings! Curator: Absolutely. By observing symbols and reflecting upon the visual cues presented, we uncover more profound cultural truths that connect to shared memory.