Water Jug c. 1937

Yolande Delasser made this painting of a water jug, we don't know exactly when, but it seems like a humble exercise in looking closely at the everyday. It’s rendered with a delicate touch, the washes of brown and grey subtly suggesting the jug's form and texture. The smudges and variations in color, they almost feel like a caress, a way of feeling out the shape and surface with the eye. Look at the way the blue floral motifs meander across the jug’s surface. I imagine Delasser carefully applying each brushstroke, trying to capture the essence of the object before her. It makes me think about all the artists who have found inspiration in the simplest of things. What starts as just looking at a jug becomes a chance to explore color, form, and the quiet beauty of the mundane. It reminds me that painting isn't just about grand gestures; it can be about intimate observations, too.