Vaas met vlinders en planten en lusterglazuur 1906 - 1907

This vase with butterflies and plants and luster glaze was made by Plateelbakkerij Haga, and I am struck by how the surface decoration seems to grow organically, almost as if it were part of the ceramic material itself. The real magic here is in the luster glaze, which gives the vase this amazing, iridescent sheen. It's almost like the surface is breathing. The base colors seem understated at first - greens and browns of the plantlife - but then you notice that the light hits it, and suddenly it's full of pinks and golds. I'm thinking about how it plays with color and light, and I'm reminded of the way James McNeill Whistler used subtle tonal shifts in his paintings to create atmospheric effects. Both artists seem interested in capturing fleeting moments of beauty, inviting us to slow down and really see the world around us in all its shimmering complexity.