Jug c. 1938

Aaron Fastovsky made this painting of a jug, and what strikes me is the earthy palette. The brushstrokes trace the form, giving it volume, but they’re not trying to be overly realistic. It feels like the act of painting is just as important as the object itself. Up close, the surface has this incredible texture. You can see how the pigment pools and drips, especially near the top. The paint isn't overworked, there's a confidence in each stroke. Those vertical drips almost look like tears, giving the jug a kind of soulful quality. I imagine that glaze in a kiln, running down the sides. The painting reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, with their quiet contemplation of everyday objects. But Fastovsky’s jug has a rawness that Morandi’s paintings don’t. It's like he’s showing us the beauty in the imperfect, celebrating the process of making as much as the finished piece.