Wine Ewer c. 20th century

This anonymous wine ewer lives at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and whoever made it, made it out of clay. I am struck by how the maker lets the medium be itself. The clay is formed and fired, but the artist isn't trying to hide the process. Glazes run and pool, like the mottled red patch on the vessel's belly. There's a real sense of play, especially in the spout and handle which are both shaped like dragon heads. Their mouths are open, ready to spout wine – or maybe just make conversation. It's as if the artist is in conversation with the material, discovering the form as they work. You see this in the base, where the pale glaze swirls like water, and even in the striations of dark brown that run down one side. I think of the work of Lucio Fontana when I look at this, though he was making holes in his canvases, rather than shaping clay. Both seem to relish the act of creation, embracing the beauty of imperfection and the potential for art to surprise us.