Toy Bank: Donkey and House c. 1942

Jennie Kamar made this watercolour, *Toy Bank: Donkey and House*, sometime in the 20th century, and I’m drawn to the way she sees the world in these muted metallic tones. It’s a painting, yes, but it’s also like a record of a particular way of looking at a thing. There’s something about the surface here, the almost industrial feel of the colours, the way she’s built up these thin layers. The donkey's got this wonderful sheen, like old pewter, and the house, well, it’s solid, dependable, yet with a hint of fairytale in its lattice work. Look closely, and you can see each little stroke, each decision, building up to this…moment, this glimpse of a child’s treasured possession. And the way the donkey stands, it’s legs firmly planted but looking ever so slightly melancholic. I keep thinking about Joseph Cornell when I look at this. It’s not about grand statements, but about the quiet poetry of everyday objects, and the stories they carry.