Water dropper (suiteki) c. 20th century

This water dropper was made by Onodera Gen, a 20th-century Japanese potter, with stoneware. It has a simple, organic form, reflecting the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection and impermanence. Consider the context in which this water dropper was created. The postwar period in Japan saw a renewed interest in traditional arts, even as the country modernized and westernized. Potters like Onodera Gen sought to preserve and innovate traditional techniques, while also responding to the changing social and cultural landscape. This piece would have been used in the tea ceremony, a ritualized practice with deep roots in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing mindfulness, respect, and harmony. The tea ceremony itself became an important part of Japanese cultural identity in the modern era. To understand this artwork better, we can look at historical texts, studies of Japanese aesthetics, and the artist's own writings. The meaning of art is always dependent on the social and institutional context in which it's made and viewed.