Jug c. 1936

Nicholas Amantea made this drawing of a Jug sometime during his lifetime, we’re not exactly sure when. I love the loose, dreamy quality of this little painting. It feels like a memory, or an idea sketched out quickly. I wonder what Amantea was thinking about? Was he planning a painting of a still life, or perhaps just doodling? The jug itself is just a few simple lines, but it’s grounded by the butterfly hovering above, surrounded by a hazy wash of brown. You can see the ghost of something else there too – maybe Amantea wiped away some paint, or changed his mind about the composition. Either way, the texture suggests a moment of uncertainty, and the title above suggests it could be for Julius Norton. These sorts of ghosts in a painting can be so much more exciting than a slick surface! It’s like a little glimpse into the artist’s mind, the push and pull of making something from nothing. It reminds me that we’re all just trying things out, making our way as best we can.