Jug c. 1941

Giacinto Capelli made this jug painting with what looks like watercolor, and maybe some graphite underneath, but I'm not sure when. What I like here is the way the painting feels like a record of an object that itself is about holding something - you know, like a vessel, a container. The color palette is restrained; it’s mostly beige-y browns and muted blues. The ground seems to be made up of thin, washy layers allowing Capelli to build up subtle tonal modulations. There's a soft touch, even in the darker blues, and it doesn’t look overworked. Take a look at the cobalt blue bird motif and see how that sits against the vessel. It really feels like an attempt to capture an object in its entirety, even the name, "White & Wood, Binghamton N.Y.," is included. I'm reminded of Giorgio Morandi, who spent decades painting the same bottles over and over. There’s something generous about artists who find a way to say so much with so little. Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation; it's about opening up possibilities rather than closing them down.