Flask by V.L. Vance

Flask c. 1941

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drawing, watercolor

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drawing

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watercolor

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pencil drawing

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watercolour illustration

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modernism

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watercolor

Dimensions: overall: 37 x 26.7 cm (14 9/16 x 10 1/2 in.)

Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0

V.L. Vance made this watercolor flask sometime between 1855 and 1995, and what I notice first is how the artist coaxes the form out of the white of the paper, building up layers of transparent washes. There's a real sense of seeing the object represented, the surface shimmers with light, but there's also a celebration of the materiality of the medium. The subtle gradations in tone, from the darker base to the lighter upper regions, give the flask a sense of volume and depth. It's almost as if Vance is inviting us to contemplate the very act of perception. I keep looking at the spiralling lines that give the glass its texture. Each of these marks seems to be carefully considered. The work reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still-life paintings, in the way that it elevates everyday objects to a level of contemplation. It's about seeing, feeling, and thinking through the act of painting.

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