Toy Bus c. 1939

Owen Middleton painted this toy bus, sometime, well, who knows when! I love the way the artist has captured the essence of this horse-drawn bus. You know, the kind that used to clatter down Broadway, back in the day. I can almost hear the clip-clop of hooves and the jingle of bells. The palette is really cheerful, isn't it? That bright red roof, the blue trim, the grey horses. And look at the way he's rendered the wheels and the driver, perched up there with his reins. I wonder what Middleton was thinking about when he made this painting? Maybe it was a childhood memory, or just a fascination with the city. It makes me think of other painters who've captured the energy and grit of urban life. I think it speaks to the ongoing conversation between artists across time, each one inspiring the next.