Jar c. 1936

Charles Caseau made this drawing of a jar using what looks like watercolor. Caseau lays down a wash of brown which seems to echo the utilitarian nature of the object. I think he's really interested in the textures, the way the light hits the curve of the jar, and how the blue decoration at the top contrasts with the brown body. Notice the craquelure of age, rendered as thin black lines that suggest a history. It is incredible how the transparency of the watercolor is working to evoke the stoneware’s surface, and how the artist focuses on a few key details to bring the object to life. The slightly blurry lettering of the maker's mark and the spontaneous-looking blue decoration at the top seem to really capture the spirit of the jar. It makes me think of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings of bottles, where the everyday is elevated to the level of art through careful observation and quiet contemplation. It’s as if Caseau is reminding us that even the most humble objects can be beautiful if we take the time to really see them.