"I Hear a Call" Bank c. 1938

Curator: This is William O. Fletcher's circa 1938 work, "I Hear a Call" Bank, rendered in coloured pencil. What strikes you initially about this composition? Editor: The dogs are quite evocative. The upward tilt of their snouts conveys a sense of anticipation or attentiveness to an unheard beckoning. It reminds me of folkloric images of loyalty. Curator: I'm fascinated by Fletcher’s use of coloured pencil to depict these forms. Given that he called it "Bank" suggests a design intended for mass production. The materials are crucial – colored pencil allowing for relatively quick reproduction while achieving a decent level of detail. The underpainting is intriguing as well. Editor: Indeed. The objects atop their backs almost have an armor-like quality; are those packs meant to be saddlebags of a working dog? And why that particular association with the bank form; I'm wondering about their role in a particular cultural story around saving. Curator: I think there is an intersection of functionality, labor, and social class. Are these faithful companions metaphorically working, even when acting as passive depositories for money? Does Fletcher’s own economic background influence how he represents labour, in a piece ultimately designed to encourage saving? The layers are quite fascinating. Editor: That prompts an interesting parallel – the faithful dog waiting for a command, versus the faithful depositor waiting for their financial reward. There is the additional layer of service implied through burden bearing that resonates on both material and metaphorical levels. Curator: Absolutely, Fletcher gives us visual and symbolic weight with economical means. A design seemingly aimed towards democratic consumption, that embodies potent metaphors. Editor: Well, it definitely alters how I perceive the nature and purpose of money boxes. Food for thought. Curator: Precisely. A closer look truly shifts one's initial perception.