Copper Cruet 1937

Edward Jewett rendered this copper cruet with watercolor on paper. The composition features a cylindrical form topped by a curved handle and a flared base, all rendered in shades of copper and brown. Jewett meticulously captures the hammered texture of the metal, creating a tactile sense that invites close inspection. The play of light across the surface hints at the object's three-dimensionality, yet the flatness of the medium reminds us of its status as a representation. This interplay between illusion and reality prompts a consideration of signs and representation. Jewett's formalism emphasizes the inherent qualities of his subject, inviting us to explore the structural integrity and materiality of everyday objects and to question how our perceptions shape our understandings of even the simplest forms.