Pa. German Pottery Bank c. 1937

William L. Antrim created this watercolor painting of a Pa. German Pottery Bank. The painting depicts a simple, humble object, probably slip-cast in multiples. The piece has a repetitive, industrial aesthetic that speaks to the rise of consumer culture, where even folksy forms are pressed into service as banks, ready to receive hard-earned coins. It’s far from the heroic narratives we usually associate with art. Instead, we have something very ordinary, yet also very beautiful. The soft, muted colors of the watercolor emphasize the pottery's inherent qualities: its weight, texture, and form. Antrim, through his painting, elevates this commonplace object, reminding us of the labor involved in its making, and inviting us to consider the cultural significance of everyday items. It blurs the boundaries between art and craft, prompting us to appreciate the beauty in the mundane.