Stoneware Jar c. 1938

Annie B. Johnston made this artwork of a stoneware jar, using subdued browns and grays to capture the object's rustic charm. I can imagine Johnston, squinting slightly, carefully mapping the jar's form onto paper. Those drips and mottled textures—did she labor to recreate them, or did she let her hand mimic the happy accidents of the kiln? There's a certain reverence in the way she's rendered this everyday object, elevating it through close observation. It reminds me of Morandi and his bottles, how repetition and subtle variation can transform the mundane into something almost spiritual. It's like Johnston is whispering, "Look closer." And in that looking, we find a quiet beauty, a connection to the simple, functional objects that shape our lives. It’s a reminder that art isn't always about grand gestures; sometimes, it's about honoring the humble.