Pa. German Bandbox c. 1941

Here's Betty Jacob's Pa. German Bandbox, a piece whose creation I can only imagine, given how much I love painting on found objects. The bandbox has been lovingly rendered in a limited palette. The surface is predominantly blue, with accents of red, white, and brown, creating a folksy feel. The artist has depicted a dancing couple, flowers, and birds. See how these figures encircle the top, creating a sense of continuous movement? The top part and the box underneath are shown from different angles, and this flattening of the picture plane reminds me of the early modernist painters like Cezanne. I wonder if Betty Jacob has seen their work? Or is it that every artist, whether they know it or not, works in conversation with one another? It’s a constant process of learning and growing! I love to see how an artwork can hold many possibilities.