Water Jug c. 1938

This "Water Jug," was made by George Loughridge, sometime between 1855 and 1995, using watercolour and graphite on paper. Loughridge was documenting everyday objects, elevating the mundane to the level of art. Consider the significance of water, historically and culturally. Access to clean water has often been a marker of class and privilege. Loughridge's choice to depict a simple water jug invites reflection on basic necessities and their unequal distribution. The jug, rendered with care, prompts us to think about the labor involved in its creation and use. Who made the jug? Who carried it? Whose thirst did it quench? The answers to these questions are embedded in the object itself, connecting us to the lives and stories of ordinary people. It serves as a reminder of the deep connections between art, life, and the politics of everyday survival.