Cup and saucer 1933

This "Cup and Saucer" was created by Frank Graham Holmes, though the exact date is unknown. What intrigues me is how Holmes made a functional object, a cup and saucer, into a canvas. The sepia-toned transferware of the University of Virginia scene is fascinating. Look closely, and you'll see how the transfer is imperfect; it’s got a handmade, quirky feel, a kind of glitch in the matrix. It’s like the image is trying to escape the confines of the porcelain. It reminds me of some of my early paintings, where I layered images and let them bleed into each other. It's this blending of form and function, image and object that I find so engaging here. Like Jasper Johns taking humble everyday objects and elevating them into art. This piece invites us to consider how even the simplest things can carry layers of meaning and expression.