Sugar Bowl c. 1937

Yolande Delasser made this watercolor of a sugar bowl sometime in the 20th century, and it's the kind of painting that just invites you to look closer. The color palette is simple, mostly browns and creams, but it’s the way she uses the watercolor that grabs me. See how the paint is thin and almost translucent in places, letting the paper peek through? But then in other spots, like around the rim of the bowl, it’s layered and darker, creating this really rich, textured effect. I love how she captures the light reflecting off the surface, giving the bowl a sense of weight and volume. The mark making is so delicate and precise, especially in the way she renders the shape of the bowl and its handles. You can almost feel the coolness of the ceramic. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi, who also dedicated a lot of time to painting domestic objects. But where Morandi is all about quiet stillness, Delasser brings a certain warmth and intimacy to her work. It's a gentle reminder that even the simplest things can be beautiful if you take the time to really see them.