Bandbox c. 1939

Walter Doran made this *Bandbox* and we can see the charm of a maker who has a real grasp of craft. The colors are thin washes, which give a luminosity to the piece, and a real sense of light and atmosphere. The forms are very lively, and there's a feeling of animation, in the way the artist renders the figures and floral motifs. The scene on the box is really captivating. I keep coming back to the way the artist has handled the figures, there's a real sense of weight and volume. The way the colors are blended is really satisfying, it's so delicate and sensitive. The more I look at the image, the more I'm reminded of folk art. There's a simplicity and directness that makes it really appealing, and hints at a narrative or story embedded in the surface. It really embodies the playful and inventive spirit.