Toy Wagon 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Philip Johnson’s “Toy Wagon,” dating somewhere between 1935 and 1942. It’s a drawing rendered in colored pencil and it evokes a sense of nostalgia and faded grandeur to me, like a forgotten treasure. The detail is exquisite. What’s your read on this piece? Curator: It takes me back, that’s for sure. Seeing it, I remember my grandmother's attic, all dusky light and forgotten things, and I can almost smell the cedar and dust. Do you see how the artist really hones in on capturing a familiar item in such a specific light? Not bright and shiny but more like a memento. Almost poetic. Editor: Absolutely. It's not just a toy; it’s a portrait of a toy. Is that “G.A. Schwarz” painted on the side? Was that a real company? Curator: Indeed. G.A. Schwarz was a very famous toy store, so this work gives a sense of commercialism with a hint of nostalgia. Johnson's composition places this mass-produced thing, imbued with such potential to delight and now aging quietly, within this gentle atmosphere. Look closely at how he uses light and shadow. It creates a quiet commentary. What feeling do you think he wanted to leave us with? Editor: I suppose that although its time has passed, memory embalms it. The imperfections – the scratches, the dust, the worn paint – communicate far more. It's much more evocative now. Curator: Exactly! It's about embracing those imperfections and finding the beauty in what time leaves behind. Food for thought for our own art, perhaps. Editor: Definitely given me a fresh outlook. I came looking for technique, but discovered more sentiment than I’d expected. Thanks.