Jug c. 1939

John Tarantino painted this jug, we don't know when, using what looks like watercolor. It's like he's building up layers, letting the colors mix in a very gentle way, like glazing. The whole image feels very present, like a person, really. There's something very casual and friendly about how the blue paint sits on the jug, these simple gestures which evoke something floral and domestic. I'm drawn to the way the light hits the rounded body of the jug, creating this soft gradient. It makes it feel weighty, but in a quiet sort of way. Look at that little mark near the top, what's that about? This reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still-life paintings, where he was painting the same collection of bottles, jars, and jugs over and over again. This is like a portrait of a jug, simple, but loaded with affection. Art isn't always about big statements, sometimes it's about looking closely at the things we take for granted.