-Eisenhower- still bank c. 1953

Editor: This bronze sculpture from around 1953 is titled '-Eisenhower- still bank', and is by Banthrico, Inc. The material gives it a certain weight and solemnity. What do you make of this portrait? Curator: The choice of bronze here is critical. It speaks to the industrial boom of the post-war era. Banthrico mass-produced these coin banks. The bronze becomes a tool of capitalist expression, packaging patriotism as something to accumulate, quite literally. Editor: So it's not just a portrait of a president, it's a product? Curator: Exactly! It’s about how images are reproduced, distributed, and consumed. This seemingly straightforward portrait bank sits at the intersection of art, commodity, and political power. Consider who could afford to buy these, who benefited from Eisenhower's policies, and whose image was being used to promote savings. Editor: I see... so, the fact that it's a bank transforms the meaning entirely? Curator: Precisely. The production of these busts shifts it into a different context entirely. It democratized, even commodified, Eisenhower, which speaks volumes about the socio-political climate. Instead of plaster, they use bronze, an intentional decision with a political impact. Editor: I didn't think about how the material changed the meaning. That gives me a whole new way to analyze sculpture. Curator: Focusing on materials opens new analytical paths; it shows how labor, resources, and industry actively shape how we understand art and its purpose within a society.