Bowl 1935 - 1942

John Dana made this drawing of a bowl, with what looks like watercolor, sometime in the 20th century. Look how the white of the paper shines through the pale washes, creating a sense of light and reflection. It's so simple, so direct, almost like a diagram but with feeling! The washes of color build up the form, one transparent layer over another. You can see how the brushstrokes follow the curve of the bowl, giving it volume and depth. Near the foot of the bowl, Dana uses darker grays and greens, anchoring the object and giving it weight. It’s kind of incredible how just a few strokes of diluted paint can evoke the glassy surface and the way light passes through it. This drawing reminds me of the still-life watercolors of Paul Cézanne. Both artists share an interest in capturing the essential forms of everyday objects, using simple means. Dana’s bowl, like Cézanne’s apples, invites us to slow down and really look at the world around us. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to be complicated to be meaningful.