Crockery Flower Vase c. 1938

Clyde L. Cheney made this "Crockery Flower Vase" using what looks like watercolor or gouache, and you can really see his hand in the making of it. I love how he’s built up the form with these tiny, almost granular marks, like he's trying to capture not just the shape, but the very essence of the clay. There's a real tension between the smoothness of the vase's form and the rough, textured surface. Look at the rim, where the paint is darker and thicker, giving it a weight and presence that feels almost sculptural. It reminds me of Morandi's still lifes, where everyday objects become these monumental, meditative forms through careful observation and subtle shifts in tone and color. Ultimately, it's about how Cheney sees this vase, how he translates a three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional space, and how we, in turn, experience it through his eyes.