Garden Gate Latch c. 1940

Editor: Here we have Maurice Van Felix's pencil drawing, "Garden Gate Latch," from around 1940. I find it so interesting that someone chose to meticulously render such an everyday object. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's consider the context. A drawing of a functional object like this challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. Van Felix clearly invested significant labor in depicting the textures and form of this latch. Were similar metal objects being manufactured, perhaps with less emphasis on artistry and more on mass production, during this time? Editor: That's a great point. Thinking about it that way, it almost feels like a nostalgic look back at a time when even utilitarian items received individual attention. Curator: Precisely. Consider also the materiality. Why choose pencil, a readily available and relatively inexpensive medium, to depict something made of forged metal? It highlights a translation of one material into another, shifting the value system. The drawing immortalizes and elevates what would typically be considered commonplace. Is this drawing a functional design rendering? Or something more? Editor: I see what you mean. It raises questions about the value we place on handmade objects versus mass-produced ones. What do you think the swirls at each end say? Curator: I read the end swirls as excess ornamentation; design flourishing made possible by the particular skill of the artist and potential consumer expectation for visual interest. Editor: So, this isn't just a drawing of a latch; it's a commentary on labor, materials, and even consumer culture. Thanks! Curator: Exactly. Examining the materials and means of production transforms our understanding of the object represented and the act of representation itself. Something to ponder!