Apple Butter Pot 1935 - 1942

Editor: This is Nicholas Amantea’s "Apple Butter Pot," likely created between 1935 and 1942. It’s a rather humble watercolor, isn't it? What do you see in this depiction of such a commonplace object? Curator: It's a still life that speaks volumes about labor and cultural traditions, particularly considering the period it was made. What we see here is not just a pot, but a symbol of communal effort, specifically, likely, a domestic task rooted in women's work and the seasonal rhythms of rural life during the Depression era. The muted tones suggest a somber, perhaps even austere, existence, reflective of the economic hardships of the time. Editor: So the medium and color choices are significant then? Curator: Absolutely. Watercolor lends itself to capturing the subtleties of everyday objects, making them accessible. But more profoundly, consider apple butter itself - its significance as a food, particularly for sustenance in times of hardship and of women in these domestic tasks to persevere against the time's struggle for them. Editor: It almost feels like the pot becomes a stand-in for something else... Curator: Precisely! Think about whose labor allowed them to persevere, despite hardship. Amantea's choice elevates what might seem like a simple, even invisible object into something worthy of contemplation and acknowledgement. It asks us to consider the cultural weight of seemingly mundane tasks and objects. Editor: It's amazing how much depth can be found in the seemingly ordinary. I’ll never look at apple butter quite the same way. Curator: And hopefully, that encourages you and others to interrogate every object and its place within wider political and cultural landscapes!