Jar c. 1940

This is a watercolor painting of a jar made by Giacinto Capelli. Capelli was active during a period of significant social and economic change. As industrialization transformed labor, the Arts and Crafts movement championed handcraftsmanship as a form of resistance against mass production. The jar depicted here, adorned with a stylized bird, speaks to both utility and artistry. Its design and the cobalt blue decoration, reflect a specific cultural aesthetic that favored practical, yet beautiful, domestic objects. In this period, decorative arts became increasingly important as a form of personal and cultural expression, allowing individuals to assert their identity and values through the objects they chose to surround themselves with. The choice of a bird motif connects the object to themes of nature and freedom, contrasting with the increasingly mechanized world. The jar, therefore, becomes not just a container, but a statement about the importance of creativity and the human touch in an era of industrial expansion.