Glazed Pottery Duck Bottle c. 1938

Ethel Clarke created this watercolor painting of a "Glazed Pottery Duck Bottle", sometime in the 20th century. The composition is dominated by the duck bottle's complex form. The artist focuses on its texture and shape, rendering it with varied tones. The light and shadow across the body of the duck create a sense of volume and weight. This artwork is interesting from a semiotic perspective. The duck form itself is a sign, a cultural symbol that can represent various ideas from nature to domestication. Moreover, the glaze can be interpreted as a signifier of transformation. The artist destabilizes the established meaning of a utilitarian object by imbuing it with artistic value through the act of representation. The painting is not just a depiction, but a commentary on form and function. Ultimately, the formal qualities of the artwork, such as its rendering of texture and shape, function as a cultural and philosophical discourse, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation of art's role in representing and transforming everyday objects.