Draw Shave 1938

Robert Tardiff made this 'Draw Shave' with watercolor and graphite on paper. It depicts a tool commonly used in woodworking to shape and smooth wood. Tardiff's choice to depict a utilitarian object elevates the status of labor and craft. In a society increasingly dominated by industrial production, such images served as reminders of traditional skills and values that were at risk of being lost. His artistic practice prompts us to reflect on the changing nature of work and the role of the artist in documenting and preserving cultural heritage. Tardiff's careful rendering of the draw shave invites viewers to consider the history and significance of manual labor in shaping our material world. To understand Tardiff’s position, it’s important to dig into the archives of regional art schools of the time, and also local historical societies, looking for evidence of debates about the role of art in documenting local cultures and traditions.