Jar c. 1937

Janet Riza rendered this jar with watercolor, capturing its robust form and the stylized floral motif painted on its side. This blossom, with its curling fronds, echoes patterns found on ancient pottery. The motif's flowing lines and organic shape, repeated across various cultures, tap into something primal. Consider how the vine, a similar form, appears in Dionysian imagery, or the lotus in Eastern mandalas; symbols of fertility and spiritual awakening. This connection is not accidental, but is an echo through cultural memory. Our subconscious minds recognize these age-old forms. The artist channels these memories and invites us to contemplate the enduring power of symbols. It speaks of cyclical rebirth, echoing the rhythms of nature, and the hope of renewal.