Plate 1935 - 1942

Editor: So, we have "Plate" here by Charlotte Angus, created sometime between 1935 and 1942 using colored pencil and drawing techniques. It strikes me as deliberately folk-art-ish, and I get a real sense of simple, domestic craft. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, a cozy piece! For me, the appeal is precisely in that seeming simplicity. Look at how Angus mimics the glaze effects of ceramic pottery through layered colored pencil. There’s a trompe-l'oeil at play – fooling the eye, but with a self-aware wink. She’s not just depicting folk art; she's embodying its spirit through a distinctly ‘un-precious’ medium. Does the palette evoke a particular time period for you? Editor: I think so. The warm ochre and rusty red do feel very Arts-and-Crafts, but without the typical stuffiness. What about the symmetry? Curator: Precisely. While folk art traditions often employ symmetry, Angus subverts it. Notice the slightly irregular spacing of the flowers, those streaks of muted green around the rim. There's a controlled imperfection, which infuses it with… personality! Almost like she’s saying, "Yes, I'm a perfect plate... but I’ve got my own little quirks." Don’t you agree that asymmetry adds this personality? Editor: Absolutely. It does feel much more modern because of the subtle variation. I’m used to seeing total uniformity in decorative arts. It’s interesting that she rejected that a bit. Curator: And in rejecting it, Angus injects such wonderful humanity, making me question ideas about what makes something “art” versus just decoration. Food for thought, indeed. Editor: I didn’t think I’d spend so much time pondering one plate! I’ll never look at coloured pencils the same way, thanks! Curator: Nor I, perhaps. It always reveals a thing or two...