Teapot c. 1937

Samuel O. Klein’s watercolor painting presents us with a seemingly simple subject: a teapot. But consider for a moment the cultural significance of tea, a ritual deeply embedded in societies worldwide. Klein's choice of subject transforms the everyday into something worthy of artistic contemplation. The simple style seems to ask, what is the public role of this art? Is it a celebration of domesticity or does the context of its display in a gallery give it other meanings? We can explore the historical associations connected to tea itself, as well as the conventions for representing domestic objects in art. We might also research the artist’s life and other works. These kinds of resources would help us to better understand the social conditions that shape artistic production, and what might have shaped Klein's decision to create such an image.