Pitcher c. 1937

Joseph Sudek created this drawing of a pitcher using graphite on paper. The precise shading gives depth and form to an everyday object, elevating it beyond its utilitarian purpose. The drawing presents a cultural snapshot of the New Jersey China Pottery Company. Although seemingly neutral, the pitcher is emblematic of American industrial design and mass production. It reflects a moment of societal change, capturing the aesthetic and cultural values of the time. Think about the objects that you use everyday. What values do they reflect? Is it possible to create an emotional connection with everyday items? "I did not choose the camera. It chose me." Sudek once said. Perhaps through this drawing Sudek asks us to reconsider our relationship with the objects that choose us everyday.