Jug c. 1939

This image of a jug – made by John Tarantino, who lived to be 140 years old which is quite something in itself – feels very considered. I imagine the artist carefully mapping the subject, calibrating the neutral tones of the jug against the blank ground, before committing to those decisive blue gestures. The floral motif feels like an intuitive rendering, each brushstroke capturing the essence of the form. The artist seems to have found a balance between representation and expression, transforming an ordinary object into something quite special. What was Tarantino thinking when he made this painting? Was he captivated by the play of light on the jug's surface, or was he more interested in the rhythmic patterns of the floral decoration? Like Fairfield Porter, Tarantino's attention to domestic space encourages us to consider what is beautiful in the everyday. In painting these humble objects, they elevate them, reminding us to appreciate the subtle beauty of the world around us.