Vinegar Jug c. 1939

Francis Law Durand made this watercolor painting of a vinegar jug, and there's something so humble about it, right? The colors are so earthy and muted. It’s like he’s trying to capture the essence of the jug, not just its surface. The way the light hits the curve of the jug, you can almost feel the weight of it, the coolness of the liquid inside. The brushstrokes are delicate, and Durand doesn't try to hide the process. You can see the layers, the way he built up the color. It's honest, you know? The handle, in particular, has this slight awkwardness, like it was drawn from memory or feeling rather than direct observation. It reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, in the way that everyday objects can become these monumental, almost spiritual things. It’s not about perfection; it’s about the feeling. It embraces ambiguity. It's all about the conversation between the artist and the object, and between the object and us.