-Seated Pig- still bank c. 20th century

This anonymous metal pig still bank sits here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's a little weighty friend, a golden hue with traces of tarnish, giving it a sense of history, a sense of use. The surface isn't perfectly smooth; you can see subtle marks and imperfections in the casting. The details around the face, the snout, the tiny eyes, they’re softened, smoothed by time or intention. Look at the way the light catches the curve of its back. It's these little details that give it so much character. You can imagine someone, maybe a child, carefully dropping coins into its back, saving up for something special. It's a piece of functional art, folk art maybe, and the charm of the pig resides in its simplicity, its tactile nature, and the stories it quietly holds. It reminds me of work by Elie Nadelman, that same interest in simple animal forms. The pig is a conversation piece, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time.