Vaas met deksel c. 1912

The 'Vase with lid', made by De Porceleijne Fles, is a real testament to the power of decorative craft! Imagine the maker, carefully applying each stroke of paint to the ceramic surface. It’s giving me this sense of controlled chaos through a really verdant palette of greens, blues, and browns. You can see this in the central motif of the peacock that dominates the vase. Each dab and detail is a testament to the artist's care. I keep wondering what it must have been like to create. There’s so much time and process involved, a deep level of skill, and an even deeper appreciation of tradition. It makes me think of how craft intersects with painting. It's all just different ways of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world. I am reminded how artists are in conversation across time, inspiring each other.