Finger Bowl 1935 - 1942

John Tarantino made this Finger Bowl, a watercolor, at some point during his very long life. The purple, it’s almost like a deep bruise, but one you want to touch, you know? It’s interesting how watercolor can be so immediate. Here, it's used with precision to show the curves and contours of the glass. See how the color pools in some areas, and washes out in others. And there are these dark outlines, like stained glass but softer. It’s like Tarantino is chasing the light as it moves through the glass. Look at the way he renders the base, it’s a tiny jewel! It reminds me a bit of Morandi's still lifes, where he’s exploring the beauty in the everyday object, finding something profound in something simple. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Hey, even a finger bowl can be a masterpiece.’