Creamer c. 1936

This Creamer, by Thomas Holloway, feels like a whispered conversation from another time. It’s rendered with watercolor, and there's a real sense of tenderness in how the paint is laid down, building up the form. It is, above all, about a process of gentle looking. The color palette here is muted – mostly delicate blues and grays – which gives the piece a dreamlike quality. But, more than that, it feels real in a way that the original object, in all its ceramic glory, could never be. Look at the way Holloway captured the light on the fluted sides of the creamer. It’s so subtle, so understated, yet it gives the form such depth and weight. And, of course, the little scene with the deer! It's as if he’s inviting us to step into the quiet, contemplative world of the past. Holloway was an engraver, known for his detailed and precise work, but in this piece, he shows us a more intimate side, and reminds us that art is always a conversation across time, a way of seeing and feeling that connects us to each other.