Pitcher 1935 - 1939

Charlotte Sperber made this drawing of a pitcher, at an unknown date, using watercolor. Look at how she slowly coaxes the light to reflect off its surface, almost like a copper pot in real life, burnished by the touch. The way Sperber allows the pigment to pool and settle into the grain of the paper is so interesting. It’s like she’s letting the water do its own thing, guiding it gently but not forcing it. The subtle gradations of color – from the deep, resonant browns to the almost translucent highlights – give the pitcher a real sense of depth and volume. It is the kind of understated color choice that makes you feel like you’ve known the painting all your life. There is something about Sperber’s work that reminds me of Marsden Hartley, another artist who found beauty in the everyday and wasn’t afraid to embrace simplicity. Art is a conversation that spans generations and genres. It is more about the questions we ask than the answers we find.