Stoneware Jug c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston made this Stoneware Jug with what looks like watercolor or gouache. I love the way she’s rendered this simple object with so much care. You can really see the hand of the artist in each brushstroke, the way she coaxes out the form through these repetitive marks. It's all about process here. The texture is so tactile, almost like bark on a tree. Each stroke is a little world, a little gesture, a small act of attention. And the color palette is so earthy and grounded, it feels like you could almost smell the clay. I’m drawn to the way the light catches the jug's surface. See how each stroke follows the curve, describing the volume? It’s like she's mapping the object, finding its essence through color and form. This reminds me of Morandi, who also spent a lifetime painting humble objects. But Johnston brings her own sensibility, a kind of quiet intensity, to this simple jug. It’s a beautiful reminder that art doesn't have to be loud to be powerful.