Jug c. 1936

This drawing of a jug, made by Vincent Carano sometime between the late 19th and late 20th century, has a very soft touch. It's like he's not just rendering an object, but he's also thinking about its past and future. I'm imagining Carano in his studio, pencil in hand, lightly sketching the jug's form and details. The jug itself seems to tell a story, doesn't it? There's a kind of bas-relief showing figures, dogs running, all rendered with such care. What kind of person owned this jug? Did they use it everyday, or was it just for show? I think Carano, who probably knew a thing or two about looking, might have been thinking along the same lines. Artists are always having conversations, even across centuries. We see something, and it sparks an idea, a feeling, a new way of seeing, and we respond with our own work, adding to the mix. It's all just one big, beautiful conversation.