Crock c. 1938

Curator: Here we have Yolande Delasser's "Crock," a blue ink drawing created around 1938. My first impression is the quiet austerity of it. The blue ink on the aged paper evokes a feeling of looking back in time, to simpler domestic life. Editor: That's interesting. I'm drawn to its classical allusions. The Crock references utilitarian objects while also echoing ancient amphorae. Its functionality transcends the immediate domestic space. What can we unpack there? Curator: Perhaps Delasser is suggesting a tension between the functional role of women in the household during that era, versus the timeless, enduring artistic expression found in these classical forms. The “Crock” becomes more than just a vessel; it's a commentary on containment itself. Editor: And think about the symbolism of vessels: repositories of memory, containers of sustenance, protectors of secrets. The Crock as archetype speaks to deeply held beliefs about home and heritage during the pre-war years in New York, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely. The blue ink drawing gives it a blueprint-like quality too. Are these the building blocks of something? How might this drawing be a part of imagining something, the possibilities contained and awaiting expression? Editor: That opens exciting avenues. What are your thoughts on the stylized, almost floral motif around the brand name "Corolius" on the pot’s side? What kind of branding of the pot did they imagine to attract potential customers, in that economic moment? Curator: I find this stylized motif strangely out of sync. While the body and form look strong, it introduces a touch of fragile beauty which may serve to undermine that austerity we discussed. Did Delasser feel conflicted here? Was she commenting on consumerism of domestic objects for the household? Editor: I think she presents a space to observe a range of tensions related to beauty, utility, classical references, and cultural values during a transitional period. Curator: It’s precisely this interplay of function and form that gives "Crock" such resonance. It speaks to us across time, asking questions about our values, desires, and the objects we surround ourselves with. Editor: A potent object, full of latent messages, from daily life that invite the viewer to delve below the surface of the drawing itself.