Toleware Teapot c. 1941

This Toleware Teapot was painted by John Hall sometime around the late 1700's and looks to be watercolour on paper. Hall's approach is interesting, not just documenting an object, but imbuing it with a sense of craft and decorative style. It's not about making a perfect likeness, it's about engaging in a process. Look at the body of the teapot; the paint is applied with a thin, almost translucent wash. You can still see the texture of the paper underneath, but then he's added these opaque decorative details. The buildings in the little vignette, for example, are all very deliberately placed, like they are decorations on a cake. Hall’s teapot reminds me of some folk art. The way it embraces its imperfections and celebrates the simple beauty of everyday objects. Much like my own painting, Hall seems to be acknowledging that art is an ongoing conversation, not about perfection but about feeling.