Jug c. 1937

Nicholas Amantea made this lovely jug, sometime before 1978, in watercolor. The colors are earthy, like the jug itself, all browns and grays that seem to bloom out from the center. It's like the process of making the painting mimics the way the jug was made, layer upon layer. The texture is really interesting; the way Amantea uses watercolor makes the jug look almost three-dimensional. You can practically feel the roughness of the clay. The paint isn't applied smoothly; instead, it's built up with tiny marks, creating a sense of depth and volume. Look closely at the body of the jug, you can see the ghosted words, 'City of Charlestown' on the side, that look like they've been worn away over time. There's something very humble and direct about this piece. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi and his still life paintings, focusing on simple, everyday objects. Both artists share an interest in the subtle beauty of the mundane. Art is about more than just big statements, sometimes it's about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.