Water Pitcher c. 1940

Raymond McGough made this painting of a water pitcher, and it’s like glimpsing a quiet, personal moment. The earthy browns and creams remind me of being in a pottery studio, the smell of clay and the feel of it in your hands. I wonder what McGough was thinking as he painted each stroke, trying to capture the roundness and the simple beauty of this everyday object. I like how the dark brown outlines give the pitcher its shape, while the softer, paler tones create depth. It's not just about the pitcher itself, but about how the light hits it, the shadows it casts. There's something comforting in its ordinariness, like an old friend. Looking at it, I’m reminded of Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting bottles and bowls, finding endless fascination in simple forms. It’s like McGough is in conversation with him across time, each artist exploring the world through the act of painting, one brushstroke at a time.