-Clown c. 1930s

This small clown bank, made of painted tin by an anonymous artist, lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. And what I love about it is how much it reveals about process. The surface is worn, the colors slightly faded, suggesting years of use. The paint isn’t trying to trick you; it's thin and direct, confident in its simplicity. I'm drawn to the details – the mouth, a simple slot, the eyebrows, bold and dark. It's such a concise capturing of expression. What strikes me is the humanity in its imperfection, that someone clearly and carefully considered how to depict a face that would capture your attention. This reminds me of work by Red Grooms, or even some early Warhol, artists who embraced the handmade in a world moving towards the mass-produced. There’s a special kind of beauty in objects that don’t strive for flawless precision, allowing us to see and feel the artist's hand.