74. Forrest Bess, Bread and Potatoes

Forrest Bess, Bread and Potatoes, c. 1938. Oil on canvas, 16 × 18 inches.

I once saw Julia Child talk about American cooking in the 1950s. She got a big laugh describing how a quivering Jell-O mold “like a lime green phallus” served as high-end cookery. In that same talk, the great chef also disclosed that her favorite food was a baked potato with butter and salt, nothing else. And I realized: deliciousness is simple, even elemental. We arrive on this planet hungry, and we must keep our bodies—and, when we break bread together, those of our neighbors—fed, in order to feed our spirits. To do whatever work we yearn to do.

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This post is part of MFAH 100, a series featuring works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in honor of its 100th birthday. 100 words on 100 works in 100 days.

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