Teapot c. 1936

This unassuming watercolor and pencil drawing is by Joseph Sudek. It's a study of a teapot, plain and simple, existing in a world of its own. I’m fascinated by how the artist has treated the surface of the teapot, washing it with layers of translucent color. The light seems to emanate from within, giving it this ethereal glow. I can imagine Sudek carefully layering these washes, coaxing out the subtle variations in tone, almost like he's willing this teapot into existence. There's something comforting about the way he depicts this everyday object, elevating it with such care and attention. And then you notice the tiny blue landscape transferred onto the body of the pot, a dream world. Maybe this is how painting can offer us a way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world differently. Sudek’s teapot reminds me that the humblest of subjects can reveal profound beauty and depth if we only take the time to look closely.