Punch and Judy Penny Bank c. 1939

This Punch and Judy Penny Bank was crafted by Cushman Parker, though we don't know exactly when. It's got this lovely handmade feel, you know? You can see the artist's process so clearly in the somewhat wonky rendering of the Punch and Judy characters. There’s something very playful about the colors Parker chose here. The surface has this slightly mottled texture, almost like it was painted in layers and then distressed. I love how the yellow ochre, especially on the bottom panel, gives it a warm, inviting kind of glow. Notice the way the figures are positioned. Punch, with his exaggerated features, holding up a baton. Judy is almost secondary. It reminds me a bit of Red Grooms’ sculptures, where there’s this wonderful, off-kilter energy. It's like Parker is winking at us, saying, "Hey, art doesn't have to be perfect to be good!" and that’s something I wholeheartedly believe in.