Salt Cellar 1935 - 1942

Janet Riza painted this 'Salt Cellar' sometime in the 20th century with watercolor on paper. Look at how Riza coaxes the glass into being through layering shades of blue. The color seems to glow from within, giving a weight and presence to the image. It feels like an act of devotion, doesn't it? I keep coming back to the way the light hits the top of the bowl. The artist captures this moment of reflection and refraction so precisely. It’s not just about representation; it’s about catching a feeling. Riza reminds me of someone like Giorgio Morandi, who spent his life painting the same bottles over and over, each time finding something new. Like Morandi, Riza elevates the everyday into something transcendent.