Bandbox c. 1936

This bandbox, of indeterminate date, was made by Arsen Maralian using paint, and what a piece of folk art it is. The squirrels are so adorable! The ochre backdrop makes the squirrels pop, and the way the artist has painted them feels so instinctive, so immediate. Look at how the little circles of paint create texture and form! I’m particularly drawn to the squirrel on the right, caught mid-nibble, its tail curving with a life of its own. You can almost feel the fur. The painterly quality here isn't about perfection; it's about capturing a feeling, a moment. It reminds me a little of Henri Rousseau, that same naive charm and love for the natural world. It’s a good reminder that art doesn't always need to be highbrow or serious; sometimes, it just needs to be sincere and full of heart.