Coffee Can 1938

This watercolor rendering of a coffee can was made in 1938 by J. Howard Iams, and it offers a fascinating glimpse into design, domestic life, and the aesthetics of mass production. Notice the can’s surface, which is adorned with an embossed, stylized foliate pattern. This kind of embellishment would have been achieved through industrial processes – likely stamping or molding – reflecting the increasing use of mechanized production in everyday objects. The very choice of a coffee can as a subject elevates the ordinary, prompting us to consider the cultural significance of mundane items. In the context of the 1930s, a period marked by both economic hardship and burgeoning consumer culture, such an object embodies the complex relationship between labor, consumption, and artistic representation. Iams' work encourages us to see beauty and meaning in the utilitarian, blurring the boundaries between design and fine art.