Penny Bank c. 1941

Curator: Here we have Herman Schulze's "Penny Bank," a watercolor and drawing from around 1941. Editor: It feels rather serious for something associated with saving pocket change. There's an almost architectural quality, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Absolutely. The piece feels tied to the socio-economic environment of the time, really reflecting the anxieties of wealth during the war. I find myself focusing on the method itself. Watercolors and drawings are simple; was he intentionally choosing to capture material wealth with accessible processes? Editor: The image is powerful, with a sense of permanence—perhaps unintentionally playing into those very anxieties you mentioned? I see the form echoing miniature temples or civic buildings; certainly those evoke safety and trustworthiness. Curator: Right, this form mirrors structures of established power: banks, treasuries. Notice the building material, each one is drawn as though the bank is comprised of stacked pennies or coinage. How interesting that even the drawing speaks to that need for structure that you identify! Editor: The repetitive use of small coin shaped segments speaks to more than just structure. Given its function to save money, isn't it fair to see this repeated coinage structure speaking more broadly to an ingrained and persistent capitalist ambition? A future composed of financial safety? Curator: Precisely. A safe future. Editor: This conversation reveals something fascinating about how an everyday object takes on profound meanings within specific eras. Curator: Indeed. Schulze’s chosen medium also enhances our understanding of value systems reflected through both creation and product.