Bowl 1937

J. Howard Iams made this drawing of a bowl with watercolor sometime in the 20th century. The brushstrokes are so gentle, almost caressing the paper, creating a wash of pale, earthy tones. It’s a soft rendering, like a memory. Looking at this piece, I'm struck by how Iams handles the wear and tear of the bowl. The cracks and chips aren't hidden; they're part of the story. See how the light catches the rim? The translucence of the watercolor enhances the delicacy of the bowl, its fragility. There is a tension between representation and abstraction. He could have painted a slick, perfect bowl, but instead, he chose to honor its history, its imperfections. It reminds me a little bit of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, where humble objects are elevated through quiet observation and subtle color. Like Morandi, Iams finds beauty in the mundane. It's a testament to the power of art to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.