Celery Vase c. 1939

Editor: Here we have "Celery Vase," a pencil drawing from around 1939. It's really delicate, the way the artist has captured the glass. There's a bird, maybe a heron, etched into the surface along with some foliage. What strikes you about it? Curator: The most striking element to me is its use of symbolism. The celery vase itself speaks of domesticity and gentility in a particular era. But beyond the vase, notice the etched heron. Herons are often symbolic of contemplation and patience, as well as a connection to the natural world. Does that strike any particular chords within you when thinking of the time it was created, around 1939? Editor: Well, thinking about the late 1930s… there was a lot of anxiety. The Great Depression was still ongoing, and war was on the horizon. Could the heron be about finding peace or solace amidst turmoil? Curator: Precisely. And the deliberate rendering of a fragile object, such as glass, speaks to the vulnerability felt throughout society at that moment in history. Also, consider what celery represented historically – as an expensive delicacy in prior eras. The association with luxury would likely not be lost in 1939! It reflects yearning, wouldn't you say? Editor: It’s amazing how many layers of meaning can be packed into something that, at first glance, just seems like a pretty drawing of a vase. Does the choice of using pencil, rather than a bolder medium, amplify these cultural implications? Curator: I would suggest so. Pencil lends itself to nuanced and almost ephemeral detail. It emphasizes reflection rather than declarative statement. And glass itself, is similarly translucent and ethereal. They create a visual and conceptual echo. It also echoes earlier periods of neoclassicism as well. What is old is new again. Editor: I hadn’t considered those links! I now see the celery vase not as just an object, but as a time capsule reflecting anxieties and aspirations through the heron and choice of medium. Curator: Indeed! The celery vase presents so much more. Cultural memory woven through the symbols and delicate technique – it’s really an insightful commentary of its time.