Cruet c. 1936

John Dana made this drawing of a cruet sometime between 1855 and 1995, but honestly, when it was made is less interesting to me than the making of it. Look at how Dana built this object from simple, flowing lines. There’s something so fundamentally satisfying about the confidence in that single color, that deep indigo. It's like he's saying, "This is all I need." The color isn't just blue; it's the feeling of cool glass on a warm day. Now, zero in on that handle. See how it curls and twists, not quite perfectly, but with a kind of charming imperfection? It reminds me of a clumsy dance move, a little off-kilter but full of heart. And that little blob of glass at the top – it’s like a full stop, or the artist's little joke. This piece reminds me of Milton Avery who shares the same ability to find such depth and emotion in simplicity. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest voices resonate the loudest.