Stoneware Quart Jar 1941

Lon Cronk painted this stoneware jar on what looks like paper, and, oh boy, does it remind me of early American utilitarian chic! I'm thinking about Cronk’s focus, the smooth, almost eerie light reflecting off the jar’s surface. Did he want us to see the jar's form or its potential? The careful rendering of the curves makes me feel like he wanted to capture its essence. I think of Morandi, but less poetic, more… practical? Both painters share a love for humble objects, but where Morandi evokes quiet contemplation, Cronk seems to document. There's a different kind of reverence here, perhaps for the craft itself, and a hint of Shaker simplicity. It's not just a jar; it's a testament to form and function, immortalized in muted tones. These painters keep teaching each other new languages to speak.