Standing child still bank c. early to mid 20th century

Editor: So, we’re looking at "Standing child still bank," a resin sculpture from the early to mid-20th century. It’s cute, in a kitschy way, but something about it also feels…mass-produced. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Immediately, the materiality. We need to consider what this resin *means*. Resin, unlike bronze or marble, suggests affordability, a democratizing of art through reproduction. This wasn't created to last for eons; its function as a bank inherently connects it to the economic realities of its time. What does the 'still bank' designation imply about the target consumer and social context? Editor: Good point. I hadn't really thought about it beyond its surface appearance. Maybe it’s speaking to the idea of childhood and consumerism developing hand-in-hand? The mass production and wide distribution means that many people would have seen this and had access to saving money, or the idea of saving money in a playful accessible way. Curator: Precisely! Consider also the figuration. The child, presented in this particular style, with those simplified features, connects to the burgeoning industries of childhood entertainment and goods. How might the child's costume -- suggesting labor or perhaps just "dressing up" -- also shape how it was received at the time, particularly during periods of economic fluctuation? Does it glorify hard labor or play at some idealised labor that this demographic cannot achieve? Editor: That's fascinating, it’s definitely given me a lot to think about in terms of its production and circulation. What a simple material like resin and how it was manufactured could hold so much weight in understanding art! Curator: Absolutely. Examining the social and economic forces interwoven with its materiality opens up a whole new dimension in understanding its historical impact.