Picturing Places and Spaces

From 1977 to 1978, David Huchthausen was a Fulbright Scholar in Vienna, Austria, and he inscribed the bottom of each vessel with the name of a town southwest of Vienna, Baden bei Wien. Huchthausen must have been inspired by the forested landscapes of this area when designing these vessels. He added No. 72 / Alpine Landscape / 1977 on one, and No. 161 / 1978 on the other. Both are immediately recognizable as landscapes with tall pine trees standing before hills and mountains. White glass at the top becomes the sky in each scene.

In the summer alpine scene, trees alternate with low hills in gray and purple. Tall mountains with rounded tops stand in the distance, and their blue color suggests they are far away. In the winter alpine landscape, Huchthausen blankets the peaks and hills with snow. Branches of the pines are covered in fluffy snow too, and the crisp chill of winter is suggested. During winter, the blue sky is mottled so different from the bright mass of clouds during summer.