Bandbox 1935 - 1942

This is Lee Hager’s 'Bandbox', we don’t know exactly when it was made, but Hager lived from 1855 to 1995. Look at the colour - it's like a very muted watercolour, very gentle, but also very clear. I am really drawn to the way the colour is applied in thin layers, one over another, creating depth and texture. The little scene depicted is so clearly from another time, isn't it? What could this box have been used to store? I can almost feel the weight of the object in my hands! The bandbox reminds me of some early printed textiles in its approach to image-making. There's a real sense of rhythm in the repetition of the various scenes. It's as though Hager were interested in the process of noticing the design, rather than just depicting the scene itself. Like a conversation, always evolving.