Stoneware Jar c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston made this watercolor of a stoneware jar, and what strikes me is its dedication to process. Look at how the surface is built up from tiny, almost pointillist marks of brown, gray, and even little dabs of green. You can feel her hand moving slowly, thoughtfully, across the page. The jar itself, with its earthy, mottled skin, feels so present, so real. But there’s also a sense of the ephemeral here. The light seems to shift and shimmer across the surface, giving it an almost dreamlike quality. I'm reminded of Morandi, who could find endless fascination in the simplest of objects. Like Morandi, Johnston invites us to slow down and really see the world around us. The jar becomes not just a container, but a vessel for contemplation. It's a reminder that art isn't about grand gestures, but about the quiet, persistent act of looking and feeling.