Cream Pitcher c. 1940

Janet Riza made this "Cream Pitcher" drawing with watercolor, standing at approximately 29.1 x 22.8 cm. The pitcher is rendered in a striking, singular shade of emerald green. Its body features a diamond-patterned texture that gives the vessel an almost organic appearance. Note how Riza uses the translucence of watercolor to suggest the reflective quality of the glass, playing with light and shadow to emphasize its form. This formal emphasis resonates with a broader interest in the early to mid-20th century with the semiotics of everyday objects and the artistic potential within functional design. The pitcher, isolated against a plain background, becomes a sign, stripped of its usual context, and prompts us to consider its cultural significance beyond utility. Notice how the artwork destabilizes established meanings and fixed categories by elevating an ordinary object to the level of artistic consideration. The choice of watercolor, a medium often associated with delicacy, further challenges our expectations, inviting us to see the cream pitcher not just as an object, but as a site of aesthetic and intellectual exploration.