Storage Jar 1890 - 1915

This storage jar was crafted by Martina Vigil Montoya, likely at the Pueblo of San Ildefonso. The designs were made with pigment on earthenware. I love the way the geometric and naturalistic motifs dance across the surface. You can almost feel Martina turning the jar as she paints. Look closely at the dark lines – they have a thickness and texture that suggests a steady hand and a practiced touch. The brown is like a warm earth tone, grounding the more abstract shapes. The surface has this gorgeous matte quality, a testament to the raw materials and the firing process. The slight irregularities in the paint are not a defect, but rather evidence of the artist's hand. There's something so contemporary about this piece. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, in the way that it embraces simplicity and imperfection. It shows art is always in conversation, borrowing and reimagining ideas across time and cultures.