Vase c. 1940

This delicate watercolor by Alvin Shiren presents a simple glass vase, adorned with flowing pink and white swirls. The vase, a ubiquitous vessel, carries echoes of ancient amphorae, once vital for storing life's necessities. The swirling motif evokes the movement of water, a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Think of the River Gods of antiquity, their undulating forms representing the life-giving and destructive forces of nature. These swirling patterns find their way into Renaissance paintings, often adorning the robes of figures to symbolize their divine connection. Even today, the swirl appears in abstract forms, stirring a sense of the infinite. The image of water is a reminder of our primal connection to nature, evoking feelings of tranquility and introspection. It is the enduring power of these elemental symbols to resurface across time and culture, always speaking to something essential within us.