Cream Pitcher c. 1938

This is John Dana's "Cream Pitcher," painted on paper. Look at the way Dana builds up the form with these tiny, delicate brushstrokes. It’s as if the image is slowly emerging, a testament to the process of seeing and recording. I love how the colour creates a sense of transparency, almost as if the pitcher could disappear into the ground behind it. The texture is smooth but alive with subtle variations, a quality you get from working with watercolours. Notice how the lattice pattern is slightly inconsistent, imperfect, which gives the whole piece a kind of human warmth. There is a lovely, quirky line that runs down the left side of the pitcher. It’s not quite straight, suggesting the artist might have paused, or reconsidered. This echoes the way Morandi would paint still lifes, simple objects imbued with quiet, contemplative energy. It reminds us that art is often about searching, questioning, and embracing the beauty of imperfection.