Stoneware Flower Pot c. 1937

Annie B. Johnston made this drawing of a stoneware flower pot with what looks like graphite and colored pencil, maybe watercolor too. I can imagine her turning the pot in front of her, studying how the light catches the soft curves. It’s as if she wants to understand the pot from every angle, to really *know* its form. The muted palette feels earthy, like the clay itself, and those subtle shadows give it such depth. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes. Same kind of quietness. I wonder if she thought about the plants it might contain, or was she just interested in the pot as a form? I love that the drawing has a sense of calm observation. It invites you to slow down and consider the simple beauty of everyday things. It makes me think of the slow, repetitive processes of both pottery and painting. Johnston engages in a conversation with those timeless forms.