Flask c. 1941

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.