Sugar Bowl c. 1936

Janet Riza made this watercolor painting of a sugar bowl sometime in the 20th century. Look at the paper; it's got a slight off-white tint that feels soft and worn, like an old photograph. The blue of the sugar bowl isn't just one shade but shifts and changes, creating depth and roundness. See how the color pools darker at the base and around the edges, giving it weight? It's like Riza was coaxing the form out of the paper, letting the water and pigment do their thing. I love the way the brushstrokes are visible, especially on the lid and the little spire on top, which feels so immediate, like a quick sketch. It reminds me of Cezanne's watercolors, where the object seems to emerge from the color itself, hovering in the air. Like Cezanne, Riza shows that painting isn't just about copying reality but about seeing and feeling.