Milk Bowl c. 1936

Editor: Here we have "Milk Bowl," a watercolor drawing by John Dana, made around 1936. It's just a simple glass bowl, carefully rendered. It's so quiet and contemplative... almost like a Zen koan. What stands out to you? Curator: Quiet is good, yes! For me, this bowl is not merely an object, it is a vessel brimming with possibility. Think about it – what fills the space, both in the painting, and the space it can fill. This watercolor invites us to contemplate emptiness and fullness. Do you feel a stillness here? Editor: I do! There's a lot of stillness and a feeling of potential. It almost makes me wonder if it’s about capturing light and reflection. Like an Impressionist painting in some ways, but incredibly toned down. Curator: Precisely. Look at how Dana uses light and shadow to define the form. The slight imperfections and variations in tone keep it real, a break away from mere photorealism. Instead, he asks what you’ll see, or imagine, filling it! There’s a wonderful, wistful, intimacy there. It’s a silent, beckoning question. Editor: That's a great way to put it. A question waiting to be answered. I appreciate you pointing out the importance of the "unfilled space." I would not have considered that this work could actually prompt so much contemplation. Curator: Well, that's the secret of simple subjects isn’t it? Often what is not depicted is as revealing as what is. I'm now imagining a series of Dana bowls with various states of milk inside - that's something I'd reflect on all day! Editor: That is an amazing idea! The magic of art! Thank you.