Jar c. 1937

This watercolor painting by Yolande Delasser captures a simple jar, yet within its form lies a deep echo of cultural memory. The inscription “PAUL CUSHMAN’S STONEWARE” around the rim anchors it in a specific time and place, but the vessel itself transcends such boundaries. Consider the amphorae of ancient Greece, or the storage jars of dynastic Egypt. These forms are not merely containers; they are silent witnesses to human life, holding food, water, and even the ashes of the dead. The jar, in its humble utility, becomes a potent symbol of sustenance, preservation, and the cyclical nature of life itself. Our collective unconscious recognizes this. The rounded form evokes the maternal, a nurturing embrace that transcends epochs. It is a vessel that holds not just physical matter, but also our hopes, fears, and memories. This continuity speaks to the enduring power of simple forms to connect us to our ancestors and to each other.