Stoneware Jar c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston made this stoneware jar with what looks like a muted, earthy palette. You can see her process in the way the colors blend and bleed into each other. The texture is really something here. It feels rough and solid, like actual stoneware. Look closely, you can almost feel the grit under your fingers, can't you? There's a real physicality to it that draws you in. See how the glaze drips down the jar? It's not just decorative, it's like the jar is alive. The way she’s let the glaze run, it’s imperfect, and that’s what makes it beautiful. This piece reminds me a little of Morandi’s still-life paintings with bottles. Both artists share a knack for finding beauty in the everyday and for showing how art is all about seeing the world in new ways. It's like Annie is telling us, "Hey, look at this jar. Isn't it something?" And it is.