Bandbox c. 1938

Gilbert Sackerman made this Bandbox with who-knows-what, sometime between 1855 and 1995. The ochre and pink of the box feel like a faded memory, like the ghost of a color. It’s as if the colours are whispering secrets from another time. I’m drawn to the way the houses and hot air balloons are rendered with such simple, almost childlike lines. There’s a raw, unassuming quality to the work that makes it feel really authentic. You can almost sense the artist working and reworking the image. Look at how the lines of the brickwork wobble, it’s like the whole scene is breathing, each imperfection adding to the box’s charm. It reminds me a little of Forrest Bess, another artist who wasn't afraid to let his personal, slightly wonky vision guide his work. Ultimately, the beauty of a piece like this is that it invites endless interpretations, each as valid as the next.