Geschilderd plafond in Noordeinde 140 te Den Haag 1912

This ceiling painting in Noordeinde, The Hague, was most likely made with a brush and maybe some stencils. It feels like a ghostly fresco, faded by time. I can almost feel the artist standing there, craning their neck, brush in hand, plotting out those decorative circles. There is something so compelling about painting a surface that is usually left blank, or white. What does it mean to put colour, shape, and pattern above our heads? I think they were looking to add a sense of grandeur. The subdued palette, those washed-out greys and creams, they evoke a sense of history, a whisper from the past. The artist's decision to echo historical motifs and decorative elements feels like a conversation with the past, but also an interpretation of it. Like they were not only creating a painting, but also creating a connection with the architecture of the building itself. It's easy to imagine artists influencing each other, inspiring each other to experiment and explore.