Crockery Pitcher c. 1940

Lucille Manson made this Crockery Pitcher, probably using watercolors, sometime in her long life. It's a study in simple contrasts, isn't it? The brown on top melts into the cream below, with a sort of delicious drip effect. You can almost feel the smoothness of the glaze. It is a solid, rounded thing, with a sturdy handle, which is so inviting. I love the way Manson lets the white of the pitcher bleed into the background. It's like she's not trying to trick us into thinking this is real, but instead wants us to see the beauty in the everyday, the poetry in a simple object. It's like the work of Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting bottles. Both artists remind us that art doesn't have to be grand or flashy to be meaningful. It can be quiet, contemplative, and deeply personal.