Pa. German Plate c. 1936

Charlotte Sperber made this watercolor of a Pa. German Plate sometime in the 20th century, conjuring a quaint peacock on a dish. I imagine Sperber carefully rendering each detail, almost like she's tracing the essence of this folk object. She must have delighted in the naive charm of the peacock, the wonky flower, and the slightly off-kilter inscription. There’s something very sweet and innocent about this plate. I can imagine her carefully mixing the watercolor washes, trying to match the earthy tones of the original. The brown outline gives definition, while the green and red give just a touch of life to the image. It’s not about perfection here; it’s about capturing a feeling. She seems to be tipping her hat to the tradition of folk art while finding her own voice. It reminds me of the kind of exchange that has occurred throughout art history with artists borrowing from each other across time. Making art is like being in an extended conversation with the past and present. It's about embracing the beauty in imperfection and knowing that there's always room for interpretation.