Mechanical Bank: Jumping Dog c. 1937

Curator: This delightful watercolor before us is by Edward W. Buechner, circa 1937, titled "Mechanical Bank: Jumping Dog." It's a preparatory sketch, I believe, a peek into the creative process. What strikes you first? Editor: An odd sense of… joy tinged with unease. Is it the eerie jester figure poised with that hoop? It reminds me of performances that force animals to play tricks, with a sort of forced joy. Curator: Forced joy is spot on! I think Buechner captured the slightly sinister underbelly of such novelties. Look at the way the dog strains forward. Is it anticipation or a desire to escape? And that barrel—almost looks like a miniature cage, doesn’t it? Editor: Exactly. This links up to contemporary discussions about animal rights, doesn't it? How were animals presented, used and abused in this era? It mirrors anxieties about labor as well, doesn’t it? Especially with those who are often othered. The "Jumping Dog" as a metaphor extends beyond just entertainment. Curator: I never thought of it that way, but the economic undertones ring true. It makes you wonder about the children who would have been putting their pennies in this bank. Were they internalizing this hierarchy, this odd power dynamic? Editor: Oh, absolutely. And this reinforces ideas around savings and fiscal responsibility. How were such lessons taught at the expense of a particular kind of relationship? The mechanical aspect itself reduces life to mere mechanics. It's about societal programming more than childish amusement, I feel. Curator: The composition itself emphasizes that rigid structure, too. The objects are neatly arranged. Nothing overlaps; everything has its designated place. Editor: Yes. I like your choice of the word "rigid". The barrel is like the receptacle to collect the profits of this transaction that has nothing spontaneous to offer us. Curator: What started as an innocent-looking depiction reveals more complex dynamics than expected, doesn't it? Buechner gave us more than meets the eye, and has provoked discussions to bridge then and now! Editor: Absolutely! What seems whimsical is loaded. This conversation encourages us to question, not merely observe and to see the ways that cultural meanings can change or stay the same.