Pa. German Bowl 1935 - 1942

This is Ruth Bialostosky's 'Pa. German Bowl', made with watercolour and graphite on paper. I love the earthy feel, the way she builds up the colour in soft layers. It's like watching a slow, gentle process unfold, a bit like the way a bowl might be made on a potter's wheel. Focus on the texture she creates, those subtle shifts in tone and value that give the bowl its shape and depth. The graphite lines create an interesting tension, like a net or a web holding the bowl together. Look at the bottom left of the bowl, how the weave gently disappears. It's almost as if the bowl is breathing, expanding and contracting with a quiet energy. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, especially in its simplicity and quietness, but with a folksy, handmade charm. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to shout to be heard, sometimes the most powerful statements are whispered.