Pitcher 1938

Giacinto Capelli made this painting of a pitcher, and looking at it I imagine him trying to capture a sense of transparency. The way the light filters through that glass, creating gradients and reflections... It’s all about color relationships, right? The purple base anchors the form, while the blue on the handle and rim gives it definition. You can see the brushstrokes, thin washes layered to build up tone and luminosity. It's a delicate balance of observation and translation. I wonder if Capelli had to paint it quickly, before the light changed. Did he struggle with the handle? I would have. You know, how do you make it feel like it’s curving in space? Painting is a constant dialogue between the eye and the hand. He’s not just showing us the pitcher, he’s sharing a way of seeing. And that’s something all painters share across time.