Crock c. 1938

Charles Caseau made this drawing of a crock – you know, a pot – using pencil and ink on paper. Look at the delicacy of the marks! It’s like he’s feeling his way around the object, mapping its curves. I wonder what Caseau was thinking as he drew. Was he interested in the history of the crock, or just its form? I imagine him carefully rendering each detail, from the looping handles to the inscription near the top. The inscription is partial, and the blue ink is very striking, as is the grape-like form on the lid of the crock on the right. I love how the slight imperfections in his lines give the drawing a sense of life, like a breath held. This drawing reminds me that every artwork, even one depicting a humble object like a crock, is part of a larger conversation about art, craft, and history. And when we look at art, we’re invited to join that conversation, adding our own voices and perspectives to the mix.