Finger Bowl c. 1936

This purple finger bowl, painted by John Dana, looks like it was made with some kind of watercolor or maybe gouache, it has that kind of soft matte surface. I can imagine Dana being very methodical, kind of obsessed even, with getting the colors just right, especially those transparent purples and pinks. The way the light hits the glass must have really captivated him. He has really labored to capture that luminosity. I feel like Dana really enjoyed the simple things and his work reminds me of that quiet observation of everyday objects, like Morandi's bottles. And maybe, like those painters, Dana found something profound in these humble forms. It’s like he’s saying, “Look, even a finger bowl can be beautiful if you really take the time to see it.” It makes you wonder what other overlooked treasures are out there, just waiting for someone to notice them.