Pa. German Bellows Toy Rooster c. 1936

Editor: Here we have John Fisk’s “Pa. German Bellows Toy Rooster,” likely created around 1936 using watercolors and coloured pencils. The rooster's quirky pose makes it hard to ignore; how would you describe the impact of the color choices and composition in this piece? Curator: Note how the artist segments the composition horizontally, one could even say in registers, from the green-capped orange box on the bottom, ascending to the colorful toy rooster balancing precariously above. The artist also cleverly employed color, which gives an unexpectedly chromatic interpretation of the farmyard fowl. What function do you imagine the drawing has beyond mere mimesis? Editor: I guess the chromatic elements move away from a representational intent? Perhaps toward…abstraction? Curator: Abstraction is a good point. Consider the stark delineation, its crisp outline devoid of any painterly touch. I would note the artist is consciously organizing forms in service to a particular visual effect, that it calls attention to artifice over realism. The visible grid within which he composes is a nod to precision. What does the grid do to the perception of depth? Editor: Interesting point...I see how the imposed order makes it flattened, graphic, in a way. Almost like a poster. I originally overlooked the grid, but now I see its influence everywhere! Curator: Indeed. We move from passively observing to actively decoding. Editor: So this seemingly simple drawing holds much more complexity than initially meets the eye! Thanks for helping me see that.