Broche met wajangpop in email in zilveren rand c. 1937 - 1971

This is an enameled brooch with a wayangpop in a silver frame, by S. Fuchs. Look at how the enamel has been built up, layer by layer, in delicate strokes of color. Fuchs works with reds and blues against white, brown, yellow and green to create a rich, jewel-like surface. I imagine Fuchs, bent over their work, carefully applying each layer of enamel, firing it in a kiln, and then adding another layer. There's something very intimate about this process, a kind of slow, meditative engagement with the material. The artist is in an ongoing conversation with the enamel, coaxing it into form. You can see this in other craftwork, like tapestries. Each element is like a building block in creating a whole world. This wayangpop brooch reminds me that artists are always in dialogue with each other, borrowing and riffing on each other's ideas, pushing the boundaries of what's possible. And it’s also a reminder that art is not just about the finished product, but about the process of making, the journey of discovery, and the exchange of ideas.