Stoneware Jug c. 1937

Arthur Mathews rendered this intriguing study of stoneware jugs with ink on paper. Look at how he’s embraced a limited palette, almost a monochrome, creating an image that feels both rustic and refined. The drawing isn’t just a depiction, it’s a process. The texture of the paper is almost like raw canvas, isn’t it? It really lets the blue ink sing. The bird, perched jauntily, is all curves and flourishes, a beautiful, playful stroke. The lettering on the jug at the bottom reminds us of the graphic sensibility so central to folk art. It looks like the jugs might have been etched first, then filled with colour. Mathews is playing with seeing and making, tradition and invention. You might think of him in relation to someone like Josef Albers and his engagement with folk prints, or perhaps even some of the contemporary artists working with process today. Art’s an ongoing conversation, right? And this piece invites us to pull up a chair and listen in.