Miniature Flask c. 1939

John Tarantino made this watercolour of a Miniature Flask, at an unknown date. It's such a simple image, but like a lot of simple things, it's really quite profound. What I see here are two nearly identical views of the same vessel rendered with a muted palette. The colours are restrained, earthy, drawing attention to the subtle variations in tone and texture. It is in these minor details, the slight imperfections in the glaze, that Tarantino captures the handmade quality of the original object. Consider the way the light falls across the surface of the flask, creating soft shadows that define its form. It's as if Tarantino is inviting us to contemplate not just the object itself, but also the act of seeing. Reminds me a little bit of Morandi actually, in its close observation of everyday forms. Both artists invite us to slow down, to look closer, and to find beauty in the simplest of things.