Melon Shaped Jar 1935 - 1942

This melon shaped jar was made around 1825, but we don't know who made it, which makes me wonder about the artist and their process! I imagine them carefully layering the paint to capture the jar's form and texture. Look at the subtle gradations of brown that give the jar its volume, and how it sits on that table with a green surface. The artist may have been thinking about how light plays across the surface, creating a sense of depth and weight. The jar itself has all these little imperfections and nuances, like the gentle curves of the body and the lip, each suggesting a sensitivity to form and materials. I imagine that they wanted to capture some essence of the object, not just the surface appearance. Anonymous or not, this artist has a distinct voice. It’s paintings like this that keep the conversation going between artists.