Face Jug c. 1860

Editor: Here we have an intriguing object: an earthenware "Face Jug," created around 1860 by an anonymous artist, now residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. I'm struck by its almost grotesque charm. Those bulging eyes and thick lips are hard to ignore. What's your take on this, especially given its history? Curator: Oh, this jug! It whispers stories, doesn't it? It’s more than just a vessel; it's a survivor, a piece of vernacular art, likely crafted by enslaved Africans in the American South. See that asymmetry, the slightly crude features? It's potent, raw. Perhaps it’s a portrait, or a spiritual marker… imagine the hands that shaped it, the culture it carries. Don’t you think the folk-art aspect gives it such direct emotional appeal? Editor: Absolutely! Knowing its possible origins completely shifts my perspective. I was initially put off by its unconventional features, but now I see resilience and deep cultural roots. Was it typical for these jugs to be functional objects or something more symbolic? Curator: That’s the real mystery, isn’t it? Functionality blends with something deeper, perhaps ritualistic. Some scholars think they were grave markers, or used for storytelling... who really knows now? This blend gives them incredible weight, wouldn’t you agree? It’s as if the artist is reaching out across time, sharing something essential about the human spirit, survival and perhaps, humor. Editor: I never would have considered those readings! I had just judged this object by its, admittedly, strange outward appearance. Curator: That's the fun of art, isn’t it? Peeling back the layers of assumptions. And this jug, this old soul, keeps its secrets close but rewards careful looking, careful listening. It has made me rethink everything!