Bandbox c. 1939

Gilbert Sackerman made this watercolour painting, Bandbox, at an unknown date. Look at those gentle blues and greens! You can almost feel the artist building this watery dream world, layer by layer. I imagine Sackerman, brush in hand, hovering over the page, coaxing these figures into existence. What was he thinking as he painted that giraffe, its long neck reaching for something just out of frame? Notice how the figures seem to float. The artist uses a wash of blues and greens to create depth and atmosphere, while delicate floral motifs add a touch of whimsy to the composition. This reminds me of Henri Rousseau's naive painting style. There's a similar attention to decorative detail and a dreamlike quality. Artists are always in conversation, picking up ideas, remixing them. "Bandbox" is a reminder that painting is a journey, full of surprises. It invites us to embrace uncertainty.