Pie Plate 1935 - 1942

This is William L. Antrim’s “Pie Plate”, painted sometime in the 20th century. You can tell the artist is really enjoying the making of this object. The color palette, dominated by earth tones and muted greens, gives it a folk art feel. There's something so charming about the textures here. The paint isn't trying to be slick or smooth, it's got this handmade quality. Look at the way the artist has rendered the horse and rider, the outlines are firm and confident, then filled in with blocks of color, almost like a child's coloring book. The inscription, “Lady Oklie,” is like a wink, adding a personal touch. The rim is particularly interesting, this decorative edge gives it a sense of completeness, like framing the whole scene. It makes me think of Henri Rousseau, who had this similar approach to painting with flat planes of color and a dreamlike quality. Art is an ongoing conversation, and this piece is a great example of how artists can take simple materials and techniques to create something deeply personal and expressive.