Toy Locomotive 1935 - 1942

This toy locomotive was made by an anonymous artist. This sculpture provides an interesting window into how society can shape the production, and equally the reception, of art. It prompts us to consider the ways institutions such as museums, galleries, and even schools form taste. Here, the visual codes of industry are recreated in miniature. We might ask, what are the social conditions that shape artistic production? This black and white image likely comes from a time when the railroad was not only a marvel of engineering, but a symbol of the industrial revolution, and so of social progress. But what is progress for some, may not be for others. It is only through historical associations and an understanding of cultural context that we may begin to see the politics of imagery inherent in this little train.