Mug c. 1937

Editor: We're looking at "Mug," a watercolor drawing made around 1937 by John Dana. There's a real simplicity to it, almost stark. I keep thinking about how ordinary a mug is, but the way the artist used these earth tones... what do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a story brewing, quite literally! It's interesting, isn't it, how Dana elevates such a mundane object? It reminds me of Morandi and his bottles, finding the sublime in the everyday. Notice the texture; Dana uses watercolor to mimic the feel of wood, doesn’t he? The handle almost looks like a carved branch. One wonders what beverage was meant for this vessel. Was it coffee to fuel the artist’s late nights, or something a bit stronger perhaps? Editor: I didn't think of it as wood at first, but now I can totally see it! The handle, especially. But why go to such lengths to imitate wood, when it's just a mug? Curator: Perhaps it’s the connection to nature, a grounding element during uncertain times. Think back to the late 30s—the Depression still looming, war on the horizon. Maybe this mug, depicted as sturdy wood, was meant to represent resilience, a vessel holding hope. Or perhaps I'm overthinking it! What does it say to you now, looking at it as possibly made from wood? Editor: I guess...a sense of warmth. And definitely more substantial than just a ceramic mug. I like that idea of resilience, though. Curator: Exactly! Art invites us to wander, to feel, and to interpret. Editor: I’ll never look at a simple mug the same way again! Thanks. Curator: The pleasure was all mine! Every object has a tale to tell if we listen closely enough.