Toleware Tray c. 1941

Curator: Here we have a watercolor painting entitled "Toleware Tray," created around 1941. The artist responsible for this piece is Raymond McGough. Editor: My first impression is of folk art simplicity—there's an economy of line and a deliberately naive representation of the floral elements. The somber background intensifies the flower arrangement. Curator: "Toleware," of course, speaks to its likely inspiration—painted tinware, which historically has been significant in both American and European decorative arts. The flowers depicted have a distinct visual language. What is your view on its design? Editor: There's something interesting about the formal relationship between the octagon tray and the asymmetrical arrangement. The choice not to center the bouquet amplifies a sense of the casual, challenging traditional symmetry—yet it is formally controlled in the end by echoing the corners. Curator: And note the color choices! The red, green, and yellow have deep symbolic roots reaching back centuries. The use of stylized flowers connects with the symbolic language found in various traditions, each holding specific meaning, be it fertility, prosperity, or simple good fortune. Editor: It seems so modern, in its deconstruction, if I didn’t know it were from the 40’s. Look at how McGough suggests texture using just the color and brushwork to distinguish form, like those glossy leaves against the flat tray surface. The color contrast serves also to establish layers. Curator: It suggests not just the artist’s skill but also speaks to broader social desires for comfort during a difficult time and a connection to domesticity in an increasingly complicated world. And indeed to traditional virtues, celebrated across a lot of cultures through time. Editor: It's as though by distilling the flowers' visual essence, McGough created something universally pleasing. A lovely dialogue between intention and the image created from lived experience. Curator: I see echoes of resilience and resourcefulness in this work. A reminder that beauty and tradition can bloom in the most humble settings.