Tammany Bank c. 1937

Editor: This is "Tammany Bank," a drawing by Harry Grossen, from around 1937. I’m struck by the almost humorous way he's depicted this old-fashioned coin bank. The figure seems so self-satisfied. What layers do you see beneath the surface of this simple drawing? Curator: Well, consider the bank itself. Not just a container for money, but a symbol of security, trust...or perhaps the *illusion* of trust, especially in the wake of the Great Depression. What does the name "Tammany" evoke for you? Editor: I’m not sure, to be honest. Something old, maybe? Curator: Indeed! Tammany Hall was a powerful, sometimes corrupt, political machine. The name attached to a *bank* creates an immediate tension, doesn't it? We see how objects carry loaded cultural histories and psychological projections. Grossen, perhaps consciously, perhaps not, captured a very American anxiety about power and finance in this seemingly innocent image. Do you think that the toy-like form softens that edge, or sharpens it? Editor: I think it definitely sharpens it. The juxtaposition makes it all the more pointed. Like a child's toy that's actually a commentary on something much darker. Curator: Exactly! Notice, too, the multiple views – almost like a product design sketch, but hinting at the many 'faces' institutions can wear. There's a layered symbolism at work, playing with collective memory. Editor: It's amazing how much meaning can be packed into a simple drawing. It really changes how I see these everyday objects. Curator: It is, isn’t it? It invites us to look deeper, to consider the cultural weight these images carry, even across time.