Iron Pot and Pot Hooks c. 1937

Charles Goodwin's "Iron Pot and Pot Hooks," is a quiet, unassuming watercolor painting. The way the light falls across the pot, you can tell how Goodwin carefully built up the tones, layering washes of brown and grey. I think back to Morandi when looking at this painting. The iron pot, like one of Morandi’s bottles, becomes a subject worthy of deep contemplation. What was Goodwin thinking as he painted it? What memories or associations did this everyday object hold for him? It reminds me how much painting is about seeing—really seeing—the world around you and finding beauty in the mundane. The soft gradations of color, the gentle way he handles the form. It’s a far cry from the bravado of some contemporary painting, but there’s something deeply satisfying in its humble attentiveness. Ultimately, Goodwin offers us an intimate glimpse into the world through the simple act of painting.