Jug c. 1936

This is a watercolor on paper of a jug by Nicholas Amantea. I'm just imagining him, his quiet focus, setting up this still life, trying to capture the way light glances off the rounded form. There is an echo of Giorgio Morandi here. Remember his paintings of bottles and vases? And like Morandi, Amantea seems drawn to humble, everyday objects. It makes me wonder, what’s so captivating about a jug? Maybe it's about slowing down, really seeing. Notice how Amantea renders the texture, that earthy, porous surface. Each brushstroke must have been so thoughtful, building up the form with layers of transparent color. And how he contrasts the jug’s cool blues and warm browns. I feel this artwork really talks to other paintings across time, reminding us of the enduring power of simple forms and quiet observation. In the end, a painting like this isn’t just about the thing itself, but how we see and experience the world around us.