Purse 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Isidore Steinberg's "Purse," a watercolor and ink drawing on paper created sometime between 1935 and 1942. I'm struck by the detailed rendering of the purse's texture and the ornamental metal clasp. It almost looks like a product advertisement, but in a hand-crafted way. What's your take on this work? Curator: Well, focusing on the materials, the artist chooses humble, accessible materials: watercolor, ink, paper. Yet he depicts something that clearly references a certain degree of luxury. The texture mimics leather, likely reptile, and there's a glint of metal. It prompts the question, what was the accessibility of luxury goods and representations during the late 30's? Editor: So, you're saying the *act* of depicting a purse in this manner, with these materials, is significant? Curator: Exactly. Think about the social context: the Depression, anxieties around class and consumerism. Representing an object of status with such rudimentary means might speak to a yearning, a dream deferred, or perhaps even a critique of aspirational culture when economic realities are so bleak for many. What statement is being made here? And about labour - this is painstaking, meticulous labour applied to depicting… an accessory. Editor: That's a fascinating point! I hadn't considered the implications of the labor involved in creating this image versus the luxury it portrays. Maybe it's not just about the finished product, but the process of making itself? Curator: Precisely! We can view this piece not just as a still life of an object, but as a material document reflecting anxieties and aspirations linked to class, production, and consumption during a turbulent time. Editor: I see that, and focusing on the labor behind it really reframes the work. Thanks, I’ve learned so much from you.