Water Pitcher c. 1936

John Tarantino's "Water Pitcher" is a lovely study in subtle gradations of tone, all captured in graphite on paper. I imagine him, charcoal in hand, squinting in concentration to get the essence of a very humble vessel. The artist takes the simple object of the water pitcher and makes it worthy of our careful consideration, tracing its outlines with a delicate hand. I can almost hear the soft scratching of graphite on paper as he builds up the reflections and refractions of light that define its form. There is a satisfying tension between the geometric precision of the pitcher's shape and the organic, slightly wobbly lines that delineate it. In its quiet way, this drawing reminds us that even the most ordinary things can be beautiful if we take the time to really look. I think back to the still life paintings of Morandi, and the way he elevated bottles and jugs to the status of icons. Tarantino does something similar here. It's as if the act of drawing itself is a form of reverence, of paying homage to the simple pleasures of everyday life.