Preserving Jar c. 1941

Joseph Mitry's "Preserving Jar" is a drawing, so already we have a doubling; a jar that preserves, and a drawing that preserves a jar. The color palette is beautifully understated, dominated by delicate grays that capture the reflective quality of the glass. It's all about the subtle gradations and the way light seems to pass through the object. Look how the artist has layered these tones to create depth, the gentle swirling patterns suggest the form of the jar, but also the way light refracts through it. There's something so intimate about this rendering. It’s as though Mitry isn’t just depicting an object, but meditating on it, inviting us to contemplate the quiet beauty of the everyday. Agnes Martin's subtle use of line and color comes to mind here. Like Martin, Mitry finds profundity in simplicity, reminding us that art is often about seeing the world anew. Ultimately, it’s up to us to bring our own associations to the piece, and that's the fun of it, right?