Altar Tabernacle c. 1940

Editor: This is "Altar Tabernacle" by Cornelius Christoffels, circa 1940, made with watercolor and colored pencil. It gives me the impression of something simultaneously precious and functional, like it belongs in a carefully decorated home. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Looking at this, I'm immediately drawn to the tension between its clear religious purpose and the folk-art aesthetic. In the context of the 1940s, the role of folk art was being debated. Museums were deciding whether to include works like this to preserve tradition, and artists debated if creating folk art was an outdated practice. Does the work remind you of anything else? Editor: It vaguely reminds me of hand-painted furniture, but I can’t put my finger on the style... What was the popular view of the imagery here? Curator: That's a great point. This style uses readily available, relatively inexpensive materials and the color palette here makes the form appear more friendly than solemn. Perhaps Cornelius Christoffels tried to popularize the altar at home at the time when religion met an artistic and popular revival? Does that affect your perception of it? Editor: Definitely! It makes me consider who this artwork was *for*, rather than just what it *is*. Thank you for your perspective. Curator: It was my pleasure, considering the artwork with you allows me to see art not just as an object with aesthetic features, but a historical statement as well.