Water or Cider Jug c. 1939

Giacinto Capelli made this design for a ‘Water or Cider Jug’ probably at the start of his career. Just look at how the image playfully combines an illustration with a design! The way Capelli lays down these indigo washes, it’s like he's feeling his way through the image. There's no hard edge. The whole thing feels like a beautiful experiment. The blue almost glows against the ochre ground, as though lit from within. And if you look closely at the jug outline in the corner, you notice this isn’t just a drawing, but a proposal, a vision! The image asks us to consider how something utilitarian, like a jug, can also be a canvas for beauty, a place where art and life intertwine. The little tendrils that curl from the base remind me of Matisse’s cut-outs, a playful and imaginative approach to form. For me this jug is a reminder that art isn't just about what you see, but how you see it.