Cast Iron Bank: Merry go Round c. 1940

Sarkis Erganian rendered this cast iron bank, “Merry go Round”, with pencil and watercolor. The approach to mark-making feels very methodical; it is about describing and capturing an object. The texture, the color, the surface, and the physicality of the medium all play their part. The paint is applied in thin, transparent layers, allowing the details of the cast iron to come through. You can almost trace the artist’s hand as they painstakingly record each curve and flourish. Look at the filigree work on the roof. See how the delicate lines create a sense of depth and complexity. It's like the artist is inviting us to slow down and really see the object. There is something about the muted tones and the precision of the rendering that reminds me of the meticulous studies of botanical illustrators. Think of Maria Merian, who, like Erganian, saw the world with a curious and attentive eye. Art is about embracing ambiguity, offering multiple ways of seeing and experiencing the world.