Schotel met constructivistisch ornament c. 1928

Chris van der Hoef made this plate sometime in his life, with paint and clay. It's got these great constructivist shapes on it, very much of its time, full of optimism. I can imagine Chris in his studio, turning the plate slowly in his hand, carefully applying the paint. First, there's the circle – so bold! Then, those sharp, contrasting lines that jut out from the side. What’s he thinking as he adds the yellow? It's as though he’s trying to capture some new modern spirit, streamlining and simplifying the world. The simple colours and forms, the red contrasting with the yellow, all point to a painter with a deep interest in design. Artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing on ideas, building on what came before. Painting doesn’t need to tell you what to think. It can be like a question mark, allowing room for ambiguity.