Stoneware Jar c. 1937

Annie B. Johnston’s Stoneware Jar, made with watercolour, is an exercise in the beauty of simplicity. The muted colour palette of browns and greys gives it an understated, earthy quality, much like the pots made by Lucie Rie. I love how Johnston coaxes out the form with subtle gradations of tone, giving the jar a real sense of volume. The lines are soft, blurred almost, as if Johnston is more interested in the overall impression than in sharp detail. You can almost feel the texture of the stoneware. Look closely, and you'll notice how the imperfections, like the chip at the top, make it even more real. It reminds me of the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, finding beauty in imperfection. I see this as a conversation with Morandi, who also spent his life looking at bottles and jars, turning them into something meditative and profound. Ultimately, Annie’s work invites us to slow down and appreciate the quiet beauty in everyday objects.