Toilette Box c. 1940

John Cutting has painted a small, oval-shaped toilette box with an intense, focused gaze, as though he had all the time in the world. The colours are muted and the overall effect is of something cherished and old. I’m imagining Cutting in his studio, perhaps surrounded by other objects he’s collected. The painting’s surface is smooth, almost translucent, allowing the weave of the canvas to show through, especially in the background. Look closely at the brushstrokes of the box itself, a kind of tender application that mimics the delicate pattern on the box. The soft pinks, blues, and greens create a sense of calm and nostalgia. It’s as though Cutting is in dialogue with painters like Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in the simplest of objects. Isn’t it fascinating how an everyday object, rendered with such care, can become a window into another person's world? It reminds us that painting is not just about representation; it's about feeling, memory, and connection.