Sally Jo 1939

Editor: We're looking at "Sally Jo," a 1939 woodcut print by Morris Atkinson Blackburn. The stark contrast and geometric shapes give it such a bold, almost theatrical feel. How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: Blackburn created "Sally Jo" during a period of significant artistic and social change. The Great Depression had a profound impact on art, shifting its focus toward more accessible and socially relevant themes. Considering the piece's bold abstraction, does it remind you of any particular movement emerging in response to those socio-political conditions? Editor: It does feel like it resonates with Art Deco, especially with the simplified forms and emphasis on geometric design, but what could this choice of style have signified for Blackburn? Curator: Art Deco offered a vision of modernity and optimism. Blackburn, through “Sally Jo”, seems to be engaging with the public's desire for progress and the glamour of the machine age. Do you think this reflects an embrace or critique of these ideals, considering the simplification and slight distortion in the figure? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way, but it almost feels like a slightly unsettling vision of glamour. Curator: Precisely! Now consider how the piece engages with ideas around caricature and abstraction in portraiture during this era, as many artists grappled with representation beyond simple mimetic likeness. The museum's display itself plays a role, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely! Displaying "Sally Jo" prompts us to reflect on how we frame and understand artistic production. I initially saw it as just aesthetically pleasing, but now it is interesting to look at the role this portrait played at the time. Curator: It highlights the museum's function in shaping the narrative around art and its cultural relevance. I found your observation about the slightly unsettling nature of glamour quite astute.