Untitled (coffee pot) c. 1950

Robert Burian made this untitled photograph of a coffee pot, date unknown. In this image, the sterile, metallic finish of the appliance is juxtaposed with the soft, organic form of a rose. This juxtaposition draws attention to the constructed, almost performative, nature of domesticity. Consider how women were often marketed these kinds of appliances, and were expected to perform the labor of homemaking with grace and ease. The presence of the rose softens the harshness of this reality, adding a layer of beauty to the everyday object. It transforms what could be a purely functional item into something worthy of aesthetic contemplation. This elevation of the mundane invites us to reflect on the quiet rituals of domestic life and the labor they represent. The photograph captures a moment of stillness, prompting us to consider the complex interplay between domesticity, labor, and gender.