Flask (Pitkin Type) c. 1936

Charles Caseau made this drawing of a ‘Flask (Pitkin Type)’ sometime in the 20th century. The careful application of paint is key to understanding Caseau's process. It’s not just about representation, it’s about making something new. The color is amazing – all these greens, browns, and yellows mixing together to create the impression of light filtering through glass. Look at the way the lines swirl around the body of the flask, mimicking the way the glass itself was probably formed. You can almost feel the heat and the movement of the molten material, as if Caseau is conjuring the liquid glass in his paint. The way he plays with transparency and opacity, layering the paint to build up depth, is really something. You know, this reminds me of some of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes, the way he could make these simple objects seem so monumental. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, always echoing and responding to what came before.