Monkey Bank 1935 - 1942

Ernest A. Towers Jr. created this design drawing for a “Monkey Bank,” a mechanical coin bank, likely in the early 20th century. This image presents a fascinating interplay of race, labor, and capital. The design features an Asian man, the figure of the working class, depositing money into a bank, with the monkey acting as his overseer. The scene draws from deeply entrenched racial stereotypes. This was a period marked by restrictive immigration policies, and intense debates about national identity. Consider how the image creates meaning through these visual and cultural associations. The artist's institutional affiliation or patronage might reveal the bank's place in the social and economic landscape of that time. To truly understand a work like this, we delve into census data, historical accounts, and the archives of relevant social and financial institutions. By exploring such historical and cultural contexts, we can better understand the public role of art and the social conditions that shape it.