Crock c. 1937

John Tarantino made this pot – actually a painting of a pot – with watercolor, sometime in the 20th century. I love how the brushstrokes build up the form. The pot itself is rendered with such care that it feels like a real object. Look at how the light hits the curved surface, creating soft shadows that give it volume. The glaze seems matte, almost chalky, which adds to its tangible quality. Then there's the cobalt blue bird. It is almost cartoon-like. The imperfection, the sort of handmade quality, gives it this sense of authenticity. It reminds me of some of the work of Giorgio Morandi, who had a similarly quiet, contemplative approach to painting everyday objects, turning the mundane into something profound. Like a memory, the image is imperfectly held, beautiful and melancholic.