Pitcher c. 1936

Janet Riza’s “Pitcher” is made with watercolor and graphite on paper. The glass pitcher is rendered with transparent washes that evoke the play of light and shadow on its surface. I imagine Riza carefully building up the form, layer by layer, trying to capture the way light refracts through the glass. There’s a sense of quiet concentration in the way the handle is articulated, with its elegant curve and subtle gradations of color. You can feel the hand of the artist at work. The handle and the foot of the pitcher are painted in warm brown tones. There is a feeling of understated elegance and attention to detail, reminiscent of Giorgio Morandi. Painters are always looking at each other, challenging each other, and that is the point. We borrow and steal, we pay homage, and we subvert. It's all one big conversation, and each artist brings their unique voice to the table.