Pitcher c. 1938

Francis Law Durand made this watercolour painting of a pitcher, and it is really quite beautiful; like a memory made real. The colour palette is restrained, warm and earthy. It gives a sense of familiarity and comfort, like a well-loved object in a home. The pitcher is depicted with a meticulous attention to detail, and you can almost feel the texture of the ceramic. Look closely at the way Durand renders the corncob design. The paint is applied in thin, delicate layers, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. Durand uses these tonal variations to create a sense of depth and volume. This pitcher reminds me of some of the still-life paintings by Giorgio Morandi. Like Morandi, Durand finds beauty in the everyday, transforming a humble object into a source of contemplation and delight. Durand's pitcher invites us to slow down, observe, and appreciate the quiet beauty of the world around us.