Carved Wood Panel 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Clyde Cheney’s "Carved Wood Panel," made sometime between 1935 and 1942. The realism is compelling, almost photographic. I'm intrigued by the choice to render such a delicate subject matter with a material like wood. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: The process is what grabs my attention here. Consider the labor invested in meticulously carving wood to mimic organic forms like blossoms. It’s not merely a representation of nature, but a physical engagement with it, mediated by the artist's hand and tools. Editor: So you are less interested in the flowers themselves, and more so in how the panel was constructed? Curator: Precisely. Think about the social context: the 1930s, a period of economic hardship. This panel could be interpreted as both a functional object, say a decorative element to be sold in stores, and also as a marker of cultural values related to nature. Also how this merges drawing and sculpture, a hybrid of forms, is indicative of interwar redefinitions of what qualifies as art. Does it represent a certain social class, or challenge assumptions of artistic labour? Editor: That’s a great point. Was wood carving a common artistic practice in this period? Curator: Wood carving has deep roots in various craft traditions. This work complicates distinctions between "high art" and more utilitarian applications of carving. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how materials and labor intersect with artistic expression in this work. I hadn't initially thought about it in those terms. Thank you! Curator: Indeed, focusing on the means of production can reveal hidden dimensions in even the most seemingly straightforward artwork.