Plate c. 1937

Yolande Delasser made this watercolor painting of a plate. It is difficult to know for certain what motivated Delasser to produce this image of a simple plate. It could have been simple artistic exercise, or perhaps a study of a piece of local history, given the appearance of age. Note the way that Delasser’s rendering gives a sense of volume and weight to the object. The top-down perspective of the plate, in conjunction with the side view, lends it a sculptural presence. The central image in the plate, surrounded by stars, appears to be that of George Washington. This tells us something about the date and the context in which it was made. Understanding art necessitates looking beyond the surface of aesthetic appeal. We need to explore the social conditions, institutional frameworks, and cultural values that shape artistic production. By consulting historical records, archives, and other primary sources, we can gain deeper insight into the meanings and significance of works of art like this plate.