Covered Jar 1939

John Matulis made this drawing of a covered jar, and it is the kind of work that makes you want to reach out and touch the surface. I am intrigued by the way Matulis used color and line to convey the texture of the jar, the way the light catches on its surface. There is a real tension between representation and abstraction here, as if Matulis is exploring the essence of the jar rather than simply depicting it. See the way he renders the numbers painted on the side. They're almost like ghostly presences, adding another layer of depth to the piece. I'm reminded of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes, which also explore the quiet beauty of everyday objects. But while Morandi's work is more subdued and minimalist, Matulis brings a raw, almost folk-art quality to his drawing. To me, art is always an ongoing conversation between artists across time, each building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before. It's a testament to the power of art to find beauty in the mundane and to invite us to see the world in new and unexpected ways.