Stone Bottle c. 1938

This exacting watercolor rendering of a stone bottle was made by Frank Maurer, though we don't know exactly when. Notice how Maurer captures the bottle’s material presence. Stoneware is heavy, solid, and meant to last. The artist’s close observation even reveals the slight imperfections in the surface, a few darkened spots, and a small chip near the lip. It’s clear this object saw real use. This work offers insight into the role of the artist as a recorder and interpreter of everyday objects. It makes you wonder what the social life of this bottle was. What was it used for? Who handled it? How was it made, and in what quantities? Considering these questions gives us a sense of how the material world shapes our lives, and helps us see beauty in the most humble of things.