Cupboard c. 1939

Editor: We're looking at "Cupboard," a watercolor drawing made around 1939 by Leslie Macklem. It's quite a detailed rendering of, well, a cupboard. The grain of the wood really stands out. What should we make of it? Curator: For me, the immediate question is not so much what it represents, but how it represents. We have a humble, utilitarian object rendered with careful detail using watercolor and drawing. Consider the social context: 1939. Think about the materials available, the labor involved in creating this detailed image of something mass produced in its own way. Why depict something so mundane? Editor: I suppose because it reflects daily life for many? Was Macklem trying to elevate the everyday object, like turning craft into fine art? Curator: Precisely! It challenges traditional hierarchies. The meticulous detail suggests a reverence for craftsmanship, while the subject matter is resolutely ordinary. Look closely at the textures Macklem creates with watercolor. How do they mimic the actual texture of wood, the labour behind furniture making? Editor: So it's not just a picture of a cupboard; it's a comment on production, labour, and our relationship with objects. Does the date – pre-war – play into it at all, maybe commenting on domesticity before… things changed? Curator: Excellent point. The pre-war era saw shifts in mass manufacturing of domestic objects but also a lingering pride in handcrafted things. Do you see how the image plays within that tension? A rendering, perhaps, that romanticizes a method of making on the cusp of fading away entirely. Editor: I see what you mean. It's more than just an image; it is an encapsulation of that historical moment. Thanks for shedding some light. Curator: And thank you for bringing fresh eyes. Thinking about materiality helps us decode the cultural values embedded in art.