Hutch still bank c. early 20th century

This handmade ‘Hutch still bank’ was constructed by an anonymous artist, with what looks like carved wood and paint. I’m thinking about how this object came into being, bit by bit, with the artist trying things out, maybe making mistakes, then correcting them, and changing their mind… I sympathize with this anonymous artist, imagining them carefully carving the latticework, and thinking about the flags they will put on each side. What were they thinking as they made this? Was it a gift for a child? A statement of allegiance? It’s so interesting to think about the artist and their process. Look at the texture and how that affects the way light hits it. And, wow, the colour palette! That orangey wood with the bright red and yellow flags. It reminds me that artists are always in conversation with each other across time, inspiring new ideas and new ways of seeing. The artist is just trying things out, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, and allowing for multiple interpretations.