Water Pitcher c. 1936

Edward White made this Water Pitcher, using watercolor and graphite on paper. The blue and white vessel appears simple and understated. But consider the labor that would have been required to produce the original object. Presumably made of ceramic, the pitcher would have begun as raw clay, extracted from the earth. Next, considerable skill would have been required on the potter's wheel, followed by the careful application of decoration. Then, the firing process, which is always a bit of a gamble: too little heat, and the piece would be fragile; too much, and it would slump. Even in the late 19th century, when White was active, manufacturing ceramics required specialized labor and a significant energy input. This watercolor, therefore, isn't just a pretty picture. It's a document of industrial production, and a humble reminder of the amount of work involved in bringing even a simple object into being. By paying attention to materiality and processes, we can better understand the social context of such images, and challenge the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.