Bowl c. 1936

Marie Alain created this bowl design using watercolor and graphite, likely on paper. The visual texture of the piece has a luminous quality that is hard to obtain. The design features hand-painted floral motifs which are repeated around the bowl's surface, and which are in the style of the era. The material of watercolor allows for delicate gradations of color and tone, capturing the translucence of ceramic materials. The artist has used the inherent qualities of watercolor to bring this design to life. This bowl can be understood as a study of everyday design. The processes of sketching, designing, and painting, elevate the design process. It also invites us to reconsider these crafts, often separated from fine art, as interconnected creative practices. In this way, Alain’s bowl challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.