China Invalid's Cup c. 1938

Vincent P. Rosel made this delicate watercolor drawing of a ‘China Invalid’s Cup’, most likely from observation. I can imagine him, carefully rendering each detail of the cup, his breath held in anticipation, his hand steady, trying to capture the cup’s beauty. Look at the way the blue and white floral designs dance across the surface. What was he thinking as he painted each flower, each tiny star? What kind of world did he live in? What did he have for breakfast? Was it a nice day? The blue is so vibrant and striking, with the contrast between the blue and the white giving the drawing a sense of depth and dimension. The patterns on the cup feels so traditional, yet, there’s something also very contemporary and forward-thinking about the painting style and use of colour. It reminds me of how artists today continue to find inspiration in the past, reinterpreting and reimagining old forms in new ways.