Vinegar Jug c. 1939

Francis Law Durand made this painting of a vinegar jug in watercolor on paper. I imagine him carefully layering washes of earthy browns and tans, coaxing the form out of the flat surface, a bit like building a ceramic object, but with a brush. What was he thinking about as he painted? Maybe the quiet, domestic purpose of the jug, holding something sharp and necessary. Look at the handle – that simple, elegant curve. Durand captures it just so, giving the jug a sense of usefulness and humble beauty. The paint is thin, almost transparent in places, allowing the paper to breathe. I love how he uses light and shadow to give the jug its weight and volume. It reminds me a little of Morandi's bottles, finding the sublime in the everyday. Painting is like a conversation across time, isn't it? Artists looking, responding, and adding their own voices to the mix. It’s an ongoing dialogue of seeing and feeling, full of questions and possibilities.