Jar c. 1940

John Tarantino made this drawing of a jar sometime in the 20th century using graphite and watercolor. The first thing that strikes me is the layering of color, how the blue seeps and bleeds into the umber of the jar. It's almost like watercolor painting, an exercise in controlled accidents. Looking closely, you can see how the blue isn't just decorative; it's structural. It defines the curves of the handles and pools around the base, giving the jar weight. And that inscription at the top – C. Crolius, New York – it's rendered in this playful, almost childlike script, which adds a layer of folk art charm. This drawing reminds me of some of Morandi’s still lifes, with his muted tones and simple compositions, but there's a raw, homespun quality here that's all Tarantino. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be grand or complex to be deeply moving. It’s about seeing the beauty in the everyday, in the humble jar.