Pitcher c. 1940

Janet Riza made this "Pitcher," we don't know when or why, using pencil and watercolor. It's got this ghostly, shimmering quality, right? Riza builds it up slowly, washes of pale gray and white, like she's coaxing the form out of the paper. The way the light hits the pitcher, it’s almost like she's painting an idea of a pitcher, or the memory of one. I'm really drawn to the handle, see how it kind of curls and flares out? It’s a lovely little detail, and Riza gives it just enough attention to make it sing. It reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes. Both artists have this way of turning everyday objects into something almost sacred, just by looking closely and paying attention to the light. And like Morandi, Riza shows us that art isn’t about flashy colors or grand gestures, but it’s really about slowing down and seeing the world in a new way.