-Jack-o-Lantern- still bank c. 20th century

This little glazed earthenware jack-o'-lantern still bank was made by an anonymous artist. Imagine the anonymous maker, probably working with pretty basic tools, but imbuing it with this gleam, this kind of crafty touch. The color is really striking: amber, like candy. I wonder about the artist, whether it was part of a factory or something more like a folk tradition. I feel like the artist was channeling the work of other artists, and probably didn't even know it! Maybe the maker was just trying to create something fun, but look how that glaze drips, the unevenness of the eyes—it’s so full of feeling! Every gesture, every choice the artist made is still there, a record of their thinking. Art is such a great conversation across time.