Jug c. 1936

Editor: Here we have Charles Caseau's "Jug" from around 1936, done with watercolor and drawing. It's quite simple, just a straightforward rendering, almost technical in its execution. What's your take on this unassuming piece? Curator: This seemingly simple depiction actually reveals a lot about material culture at the time. The focus on a utilitarian object like a jug invites us to consider its production: the clay, the firing process, the hands that shaped it, even the branding visible. What would this jug have contained, and who would have consumed it? Editor: So, it's less about the artistry and more about the jug itself as a historical object? Curator: Precisely. Caseau, by depicting it so directly, removes it from the realm of precious object and returns it to its function. The drawing flattens the traditional hierarchy, equating the depiction of labor with 'high art'. The jug speaks volumes about industry, consumption, and the everyday lives of ordinary people. Does knowing this shift your perception? Editor: Definitely. I was so focused on the plain style that I missed the cultural context completely! Seeing it as a product of labor makes the image far more engaging. Curator: It's about challenging our preconceived notions of art and expanding our definition of what's worthy of attention. Instead of formal concerns, consider what kind of lives the artwork has seen and lived within. Editor: This definitely gives me a new way to think about still life and other similar works; thank you! Curator: It’s important to question and investigate the history embedded in every artwork we encounter!