Wash Stand c. 1940

Editor: This is "Wash Stand" a coloured-pencil drawing, circa 1940, by Della Button. It looks like it was drawn with incredible care; the texture of the wood almost makes you want to reach out and touch it. What's your interpretation of this piece? Curator: Isn't it wonderful? To me, it whispers of quiet mornings and gentle routines. There's something incredibly intimate about a washstand; it was where you prepared yourself for the world each day. But beyond that… does this image spark any feelings for you? Editor: It feels very personal and domestic, something someone would draw of their own home. Like a precious object. Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder about Della Button, doesn’t it? I get the impression this wasn't just a washstand; it was *her* washstand. Each carefully rendered line seems infused with affection. The choice of colored pencil feels intentional, too – warmer, perhaps, than pen and ink would have been. Do you agree? Editor: Definitely, the colored pencil gives it a softer feel than a stark line drawing. There's an incredible amount of detail! Curator: Yes! The artist certainly did. Now think about how functional that washstand would be, or rather, if the drawing is actually functional in anyway? Is the purpose practical, as an historical document, or artistic as a composition or impression of what the washstand looked like. It raises a lot of questions about the role of art and everyday life doesn't it? Editor: It certainly does. I hadn't really considered what purpose drawing something so simple might have! Curator: And that's the beauty of it, isn't it? We start with something familiar and end up questioning so much more. Editor: I learned a lot about seeing the everyday in art in a fresh, thoughtful way today. Thanks!