Jug c. 1936

Curator: This watercolor and drawing by Yolande Delasser, titled "Jug," dates from around 1936. The object is so lovingly rendered, in great detail and with such reverence! What are your immediate impressions? Editor: I'm struck by its muted palette. It evokes a feeling of quiet, unassuming functionality—something humble and deeply rooted in everyday life. A shadow or two wouldn't hurt. Curator: That echoes how I see it. The jug as object carries an immense amount of symbolism: containment, nourishment, perhaps even a connection to ritual. Notice the blue script and floral designs surrounding the words, "C. Crolius, Manhattan Wells, New York." Those details give it a definite historical anchor. Editor: The fact that Delasser chose to represent something so ordinary…I mean, a jug. It's almost an act of defiance against grand narratives. There is an extra fragment on the top left, possibly of the jug's handle? It's such a curious addition. Curator: Very astute! By isolating the handle fragment, Delasser compels us to question our assumptions about wholeness and context. It's also worth pondering Crolius’ Manhattan Wells. A place brimming with communal importance now preserved by ink. Editor: Thinking about water as the source of life—Manhattan having an abundance—perhaps this jug represents a vessel of culture itself, carrying forth collective memories and stories, wouldn't you say? Curator: Exactly! The object becomes a silent storyteller. By selecting watercolor, Delasser brings a sense of fluidity—almost like memory itself, subject to gentle shifts over time. The jug exists like an archaeological item yet possesses an unmissable timeless aura. Editor: This simple "Jug" takes on deeper resonances. I guess this just proves how potent art can be when it dares to find beauty in the mundane, whispering secrets about identity. Curator: Absolutely, it's about revealing how much weight seemingly minor objects can bare. Editor: I think, now I can never look at an earthenware jug the same way again.