Cup and Saucer c. 1940

Aaron Fastovsky made this watercolor of a cup and saucer, and it's the kind of painting that makes you want to reach out and touch the surface. The colors are muted, mostly earthy browns and yellows, and he seems to be letting the water do its thing, creating these beautiful, subtle gradations. Look at how the light catches the rim of the cup and saucer. There's this gorgeous, soft glow, but then you see these darker spots that hint at age, use, maybe even a little bit of wear and tear. For me, this piece is all about texture. It’s reminiscent of Giorgio Morandi’s still life paintings, where everyday objects are imbued with a quiet, contemplative beauty. Like Morandi, Fastovsky reminds us that art is about looking closely and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. It's a conversation across time, and there are no fixed meanings here, just the joy of seeing.