Bowl c. 1938

Edward White made this painting of a bowl with watercolor, but we don’t know when. White’s approach seems so precise, almost like he’s mapping the object. I like how he captures the bowl's form and decoration with such delicate strokes. The colors here are so gentle, a muted palette that gives a quiet presence. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, a contrast to the smooth, almost porcelain-like rendering of the bowl itself. Notice the little hand-like motifs around the center, how each one is slightly different, giving the bowl a sense of character and warmth. White's work reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, but with a folksier touch. Both artists share a love for simple, everyday objects, but White brings this wonderful decorative element. Ultimately, it shows how art can find beauty in the mundane.