Bowl c. 1939

Alfred Parys made this watercolor painting of a brown bowl. The painting's surface is smooth, a stark contrast to the rough, textured clay it depicts. Imagine Parys at his easel, carefully laying down washes of color to capture the subtle variations in tone and shadow on the bowl's surface. I can sense the attention he has paid to the light as it catches on the rim and casts shadows within the bowl's openings. The leaves are like soft, tender openings. Looking at the painting now, you can imagine the bowl as a metaphor for containment, like a story waiting to be told, or a vessel ready to be filled with memories. Whether consciously or not, artists build upon the work of those who came before, and this constant exchange enriches our understanding of art. It makes you think about the endless possibilities that painting offers.