Iron Toy Bank c. 1940

Sarkis Erganian created this drawing of an Iron Toy Bank, probably sometime in the mid-20th century, using what looks like watercolor on paper. The way the pigment pools and settles is really lovely. The artist's careful rendering gives the toy an almost melancholy weight. You can see how the paint has a mind of its own, especially in the way the blue of the globe subtly darkens towards the bottom, lending it volume. The gold band around the middle is just perfect. The light is coming from somewhere, reflecting on that gold. And then there’s the clown. That smirking, painted smile. It makes me think of those darker corners of childhood imagination, the kind where toys come alive when you're not looking. There's something quietly unsettling about it. This reminds me a little of Red Grooms and his sculptures – this idea of turning something flat into something playfully three-dimensional. What is a toy for if not playing? It's a good way to get into art.