Jug c. 1938

Howard Lumbard made this jug out of watercolor and graphite on paper, and looking at it, I wonder about the act of painting it – the shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. Sympathizing with Lumbard, I imagine him thinking about how to represent the jug's utilitarian form and decorative details, like the cobalt blue floral motifs and maker’s mark. The paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the paper to breathe beneath. Notice how a particular gesture, like the sweeping curve of the handle, communicates a sense of weight and function. The drawing is precise yet softened, so that the jug appears grounded and sturdy. Lumbard’s jug reminds me of other painters who find inspiration in everyday objects, transforming them into subjects of contemplation and beauty. Artists engage in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time, inspiring each other’s creativity. Painting embraces ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations and meanings.