China Plate c. 1937

Geoffrey Holt painted this study of a china plate with watercolour. You can see the top and side views. It's so delicate. I wonder what he was thinking, choosing to paint a plate? Was it the challenge of capturing the light reflecting off the glaze, or the intricate floral pattern? The way he renders the shadows suggests he wanted to capture the object in all its three-dimensional glory, almost like a portrait. The soft washes of gray and delicate touches of purple create a quiet mood. It's a testament to the beauty that can be found in the everyday, like a Morandi still life. It reminds me that all artists are in conversation with each other, echoing and reinventing themes across time. And this quiet study opens up so much to think about in the simple form of a domestic object.