Jug c. 1936

John Matulis made this painting, Jug, sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like watercolor or gouache on paper. I love the way he’s built up the form of the jug in layers, especially the mottled greens and browns giving it that earthy, handmade feel. You can tell that he took his time, really studying the object, the way the light hits it, the subtle gradations of color and texture. I can imagine him squinting, stepping back, and then adding another touch, another glaze, another layer of detail. The little stopper at the bottom looks like it has fallen off the jug, like the contents have already been poured, or drunk... Who knows? There’s something so intimate and vulnerable about this work, isn’t there? It reminds me that even in the most ordinary objects, there’s a world of beauty and meaning waiting to be discovered. It's all connected!