Investigating Committee Broadcast c. 1937

Curator: Standing before us is Nan Lurie’s arresting image, titled *Investigating Committee Broadcast,* circa 1937, crafted with charcoal and pencil. What’s your immediate take on this piece? Editor: It feels like a descent, doesn't it? All that dark ink swirling inward, almost a vortex. Claustrophobic and intense. Curator: Exactly. I think it speaks volumes about the unease permeating the era, right before the Second World War. The frenetic energy really mirrors the pervasive anxiety during a period dominated by surveillance and suspicion. Editor: It does bring that heightened state of paranoia to the surface. I wonder about the “investigating committee” mentioned in the title. It evokes imagery of political persecutions, whispering campaigns, and potential injustices percolating. What about you? Is the artist’s perspective clear to you? Curator: As an artist, I get lost in the feeling. Those heavy strokes, that urgent mark-making…I almost don't need the title. I feel the dread, the lack of control that many people faced during this time. But let’s pause on Nan Lurie. She was a participant in the Federal Art Project… Editor: …that progressive arm of the WPA! Making art accessible, providing economic relief to artists struggling during the Depression, and contributing vital social commentary through art that speaks truth to power! Curator: Amen! What strikes me is how powerfully Lurie captured the era. It reminds us how social disruption can seep into our private experiences, manifesting in these turbulent emotions and uneasy, watchful states. It's less about depicting a literal scene and more about capturing a mood, a vibe... something elemental. Editor: Well, it’s undeniable. With all the cross-hatching, her draftsmanship certainly conveys a certain disquietude. It speaks of lives interrupted, perhaps ruined, and voices silenced. Considering the cultural context of this artwork, I’m particularly compelled by the themes of resilience, resistance, and artistic expression emerging from intense social disruption. Curator: You are so right. Art as resistance. A light in the darkness. Makes me want to pick up a pencil and draw my own revolution, even if it's just on paper. Editor: So true, me too. Well, thinking about Lurie’s commitment during those challenging times has truly enriched my appreciation of the artwork. Curator: Mine too! And hopefully our listeners are as inspired by Nan Lurie's expression as we are.