Covered Tub c. 1937

Edward White’s watercolor painting, Covered Tub, captures the aesthetic of early American craftsmanship. White was born in 1855, a time when the United States was on the brink of immense industrial and social change following the Civil War. This rendering of a humble, utilitarian object invites us to reflect on the values and skills of a pre-industrial era. The covered tub would have been an essential item in households, used for storing food, liquids, or other provisions. Here, White transforms a simple object into a study of form, light, and shadow. The even lighting and clear, precise lines suggest a reverence for the handmade. The choice to depict such an object elevates everyday life to the level of art, suggesting a nostalgic longing for a simpler past. White’s Covered Tub, in its stillness, asks us to consider the relationship between craft, labor, and the changing landscape of American life.