Beer Mug c. 1939

Carl Buergerniss made this beer mug, sometime in the early 20th century, with watercolor and graphite on paper. I can imagine him carefully rendering each detail, almost lovingly, and this suggests he was trying to understand something about the object itself. I feel like he has affection for this mug; I can almost hear him humming along to the music on its side, maybe after having a beer or two. I want to drink out of it! The way the blues and tans contrast, it’s like a song, both visually and conceptually, echoing in my mind. I love how the graphite captures the metallic sheen, giving it a sort of industrial-folksy vibe. It reminds me a bit of how Morandi would paint bottles, finding beauty in the everyday. You know, it’s like Buergerniss is saying, "Hey, even a beer mug can be a masterpiece!" It’s a reminder to find joy and wonder in the simplest things, and celebrate the beauty around us.