Metal Toy Bank: Tammany Bank c. 1938

George File made this image of a 'Metal Toy Bank: Tammany Bank' with what looks like watercolor, and you can just see the hand of the artist as he is trying to create a likeness of this object. The colors are surprisingly bold and playful, with that bright blue jacket and gold vest, which makes the character pop, but it's the surface quality that really grabs me. The paper isn’t totally flat, and you can see every little imperfection and brushstroke. The artist has added the spatter of paint on the trousers, giving it a feeling of age or wear and tear. Look how File captured the texture of the metal, especially on the chair, where you can see the words TAMMANY BANK. I think of outsider art as an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, and the way this image seems to capture the spirit of folk art resonates with me.