Crock c. 1938

George Loughridge made this 'Crock' with watercolor on paper, and it really captures a quiet moment of observation. I can imagine Loughridge carefully studying the light as it hit the simple form of the crock, probably thinking about how to capture its volume and the way the blue decoration pops against the muted background. It's like he’s having a conversation with the object, figuring out how to translate its three-dimensional reality onto a flat surface. I find the texture he’s created particularly interesting, that kind of grainy effect, almost like he's trying to evoke the rough surface of the ceramic itself. The brushstrokes are soft and blended, creating a gentle, almost dreamlike quality. And it reminds me of other artists who looked at everyday objects and found something profound in their simplicity. I am thinking of Morandi in particular. There’s a beauty in the ordinary that connects us all, across time and styles.