Jug c. 1937

Jean Peszel made this drawing, Jug, with what looks like watercolor or gouache, and maybe some graphite, too. I’m interested in how Peszel approached the surface, the way the colour blooms just so, like when you drop ink into water. The jug itself is this muted, greyish-brown, almost like it's aged, while the floral design pops in a deep, saturated blue. What catches my eye is how the blue lines aren’t perfect or precise; they waver and thicken, giving the jug a handmade, folksy feel. There's this one spot, where the flower meets the jug's body. The blue bleeds out a little. It’s like the artist let the paint do its thing, embracing the unexpected. Peszel’s Jug reminds me a little of some of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, but with a bit more charm and a dash of outsider art thrown in. It’s like Peszel is reminding us that art isn't about perfection, it’s about the conversation between the artist, the medium, and the world around them.