Jug c. 1937

Yolande Delasser made this artwork called "Jug", using ink and graphite on paper. I love the simplicity of this work. Delasser has juxtaposed a jug and a bird on the same plane. The jug is drawn delicately in graphite, while the bird appears in a darker ink wash, lending it weight, as though it might fly off the page. I imagine Delasser experimenting with line and form, intuitively letting these images emerge. Maybe she looked up from her table and saw these two figures, side by side. She seems to be playing with how objects and images can be deconstructed and reconstructed through the act of painting. The bird itself is like a calligraphic gesture. Its curves and lines embody a sense of movement, as though we can almost hear it singing. It makes me think of other artists who have used simple lines to create something that speaks volumes. It is a delicate balance.