Still Life 

Jules Dupré likely executed this still life with graphite and watercolor washes, a rapid and accessible technique for capturing the ensemble of objects. The textures and forms of everyday life are rendered through hatched lines and subtle gradations of tone, capturing a rustic scene. We can appreciate the heft of the ceramic vessels, contrasting with the smoothness of the metal pail. The drawing is characterized by the ways in which the objects are clearly handmade; each piece holds a history of the techniques, tools, and labor that went into its making. Notice how these qualities tie into broader social issues of labor and consumption. Recognizing the hand-formed character of these objects, and the labor it represents, challenges any conventional distinction between fine art and craft. Approaching the work through materiality and the act of making invites us to see it with fresh eyes.