Jug c. 1936

Yolande Delasser made this design for a jug using watercolour on paper. It's not just a picture of a jug, but a plan, a possibility rendered in delicate washes and lines. Look at how the blue of the bird pops against the muted grey background. It’s a study in contrasts, like a quiet conversation between colors. The bird itself, perched on a branch, feels both solid and ethereal, its form defined by confident strokes. And then there's the jug, faintly sketched, a ghost of a vessel waiting to be born. Notice how the artist hasn't fully committed to outlining the jug, leaving space for the idea to breathe, to evolve. It reminds me of those early Matisse drawings, where the line dances and plays, never quite settling. Delasser has this in common with her loose confident touch, which embraces uncertainty and change.