Pa. German Hildebrandt Mug c. 1939

Here is Thomas Watt's watercolor painting of a Pa. German Hildebrandt Mug. There is a loose quality to the application of watercolor here, the way the colors bleed into each other, particularly the soft turquoise. This feels as though the artist is using the process of applying color as a means of exploring, not controlling, the subject. The mug itself is rendered with care, a real attention to the texture of the glaze and the marks on the body of the mug. The rim of the mug is chipped. I love how the chipped parts aren't perfect, mirroring the imperfections of the original object. The image of a figure is intriguing. It is positioned on a small hill, perhaps a reference to its origins, or maybe just a whimsical touch. The date, 1869, suggests a historical connection, grounding the piece in a specific time. Watts' piece reminds me of Charles Demuth's explorations of everyday objects. But it’s more than just documentation; it’s a conversation with tradition, filtered through Watts' unique perspective. It’s a reminder that art thrives in the space between intention and interpretation.