Toleware Coffee Pot c. 1937

Max Soltmann, who lived a good long life, made this painting of a Toleware Coffee Pot, we don't know exactly when, but what stands out to me is the directness of the painting, a kind of simple, honest approach to color and form. The paint handling here is pretty straightforward. The painting isn't trying to trick you or show off. What I love about this piece is the way the artist approaches the task of painting, the artist seems to be interested in the surface of the pot, how the light catches on it, the color and texture. There's a bird on the pot, like some kind of logo, and red circles that might be fruit or flowers. But it is the bird that takes my eye - it is so direct, a single yellowy mark, its the kind of image that gets straight to the point. This piece reminds me of Milton Avery, someone else who wasn't afraid to reduce things down to their simplest forms. Art is always in conversation with itself, and Soltmann is joining in, adding his voice to the mix. It is a conversation, where clarity and ambiguity coexist.