Pitcher c. 1940

George H. Alexander made this drawing of a pitcher, it’s a study in brown, almost like a monochrome. The artist has mapped the form with layers of tone, you can really see the hand of the artist in the little blooms of darkness and light that describe the shape. The surface is really interesting; I find myself wondering if it’s made with watercolor or gouache, it’s hard to tell. There’s an opacity to it, but also a real sense of light, look at the way the light falls on the lip of the jug, it's subtly done. You can see how the artist has built up the form with short, soft strokes of the brush. The handle of the jug has its own little shadow cast on the main body. This piece reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who also painted lots of vessels. Like Morandi, Alexander helps us to see the beauty in the everyday. It’s a quiet sort of beauty, but it's there if you look.