Small Glass Bowl c. 1940

This is V.L. Vance's "Small Glass Bowl", rendered in watercolor, ink, and graphite. The artwork features a symmetrical composition centered around a simple glass bowl. The muted palette and soft gradations of color create a sense of delicate realism. Vance uses a combination of line and shading to define the form of the bowl, paying close attention to the way light interacts with its surface. This emphasis on the material qualities of glass and its capacity to reflect and refract light recalls the semiotic theories of Roland Barthes, who explored how everyday objects are laden with cultural meanings. The seemingly straightforward depiction invites us to consider how the bowl functions as a sign, embodying ideas of domesticity and artistic representation. Ultimately, Vance's work suggests that even the most humble of objects can become a vehicle for exploring complex aesthetic and philosophical questions.