Monkey Statuette c. 1937

Frank Fumagalli made this small watercolor of a Monkey Statuette, but we don't know exactly when. It’s like the artist was in conversation with the object, tracing its form, trying to figure out the play of light across the monkey’s peculiar little face. Look at the way Fumagalli renders the materiality of the sculpture. The washes of color are thin, translucent, and evoke a sense of the sculpture's sheen. The reddish-brown color could suggest wood or painted metal, there is a warmth to it. Consider the marks around the base. The tiny dots add an element of playfulness, of ornamentation, which counters the otherwise serious demeanour of the monkey. This detailed attention to the object reminds me that the artistic process is not just about representation but also about transformation and interpretation. Art is, at its heart, an ongoing dialogue. There's a connection with artists such as Red Grooms or H.C. Westermann, who imbue their sculptures with a similar sense of humor and irony. Ultimately, art embraces ambiguity, and it's up to us to engage with it and find our own interpretations.