Stoneware Jar c. 1940

This stoneware jar was rendered by Charles Caseau, born in 1880, who captured its form and texture on paper. Caseau’s meticulous depiction invites us to reflect on the cultural significance of stoneware, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was a household staple, before the advent of modern food storage. The cobalt blue flourishes and lettering, “C. Crolius, New York” are not merely decorative, but speak to a tradition of craftsmanship and commerce. These jars were vessels, not just for preserving goods, but also for preserving cultural practices and culinary traditions. Consider the hands that made this jar, the families that used it, the communities that relied on it. Caseau invites us to consider how everyday objects carry histories of labor, migration, and the making of community. The artist, through his rendering, asks us to find beauty in utility. It is a reminder of how art can transform the mundane into something worthy of contemplation.