Reliëf met portret van H.P. Berlage 1926

This terracotta plaque of H.P. Berlage by De Porceleijne Fles has a warm, earthy tone. Imagine the artist, fingers coated in clay, coaxing this profile from the yielding material. I bet it’s a bit like kneading dough. The surface isn’t smooth; you can see every touch, every push and pull that shaped the architect’s likeness. I love the little ear. It almost has a comical feel, doesn't it? The strong lines of the jaw and brow suggest a forceful personality, maybe a touch stubborn. It’s incredible how much expression comes through in such a simple medium. It makes you wonder what De Porceleijne Fles was thinking while creating this artwork. Were they friends? Did they admire Berlage? You can sense the intimacy, the hours spent observing every contour of his face. It reminds me of early modernist portraiture, of how artists were breaking down form and rebuilding it to capture more than just a surface likeness. And isn't it wonderful how artists across all disciplines and eras can learn from each other, riffing on ideas and pushing the boundaries of their craft?