Bust of Washington 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have what looks like a sculpture, "Bust of Washington," created between 1935 and 1942. It is a portrait in profile. The execution is incredibly detailed, particularly the rendering of his hair and clothing. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: From a materialist perspective, the deliberate choice of 'sculpture' – a word that implies a higher art status – clashes with the actual likely production of such portraits for a growing middle class eager for accessible symbols of power. Editor: Interesting. Could you elaborate on the accessibility aspect? Curator: Certainly. Think about the era this was made in, even a little before it. The late 19th and early 20th century was dominated by mass-production capabilities; the possibility that these portraits could become nearly as ubiquitous as photographs transforms the work from a venerated object to a repeatable, and therefore consumable, symbol. How does that repeated depiction reinforce, or perhaps even challenge, traditional notions of portraiture? What purpose does such repetition serve? Editor: So, it’s about how a traditionally high-art form intersects with mass culture and commodity? That completely changes how I see it! I was stuck on the classical look. Curator: Exactly! It is vital to analyze the materials and their modes of distribution because they provide social insights, challenging hierarchies embedded within the art world and larger culture. Editor: Thanks! That's a refreshing new way of looking at portraits. Curator: Glad to have given a new lens on it!