Pa. German Cup and Saucer 1937

Max Soltmann made this drawing of a Pa. German Cup and Saucer with watercolor, probably sometime in the early part of the 20th century. It's all about capturing the spirit of these objects, right? The way the light kind of wraps around them, like a memory. Looking at the cup, I see how Soltmann layers these earthy browns, letting the brushstrokes define the form, not hiding them. It’s transparent, like the watercolor is whispering about the clay underneath, the physical heft of the cup itself. Then there’s the saucer with this whimsical flower, its petals outlined in a way that’s both careful and totally free. There's a spot on the saucer where the paint's worn away, or maybe it was never there to begin with. It’s like Soltmann is saying, “Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes,” showing us that painting, like pottery, is a process, not just a finished product. It reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley's folk art sensibility, that appreciation for the handmade and the slightly imperfect.