Powder Flask c. 1940

This is Robert W.R. Taylor’s Powder Flask, made with watercolor and graphite. Look at how the light seems to dance across the surface. It feels like Taylor is inviting us to consider the process of seeing as much as the object itself. The colors are muted, almost monochromatic, which gives the piece a sense of quiet and reflection. The surface is smooth, and the details are rendered with such precision, it's like he's trying to hold onto the object, to really understand it through the act of drawing. Take a look at how the artist has rendered the shell motif on the body of the flask, each line and curve adding depth and dimension. It's almost as if Taylor is trying to capture the essence of the flask, not just its appearance. Thinking about contemporaries, someone like John Haberle comes to mind, with that same desire to create a sense of hyper-realism in paint. Ultimately, it’s about seeing and feeling, and how art helps us do both a little better.