Mortar and Pestle c. 1937

Gerald Transpota painted this mortar and pestle with a limited color palette and clean brushstrokes, giving it a quiet, still quality. I wonder what Transpota was thinking when he made this? Maybe he was interested in how light plays on simple forms, how the curve of the pestle catches the light differently than the bowl of the mortar. You know, it kind of reminds me of Morandi's bottles, that same attention to everyday objects, giving them a sense of importance. Look at how thin he's applied the paint, almost like watercolor. You can still see the paper underneath, which gives the painting a freshness, as if he painted it in one go. I like the little chip at the top of the bowl. It’s like a reminder that the object is used, has a history. It makes the painting feel more real, more alive. It all goes to show how artists are constantly riffing off each other, remixing ideas across time. Painting, it's not about fixed meanings, it's more like an invitation to dream.