Herinneringsbord Boerenoorlog: boeren in de nevel 1899 - 1925

This commemorative plate of the Boer War was made by Petrus Regout sometime in the 1800s, and the scene unfolds right before us. Can you feel the tension? Close ranks! It's hard to believe that such drama can be rendered in such subtle shades, the figures almost swallowed by the fog. The plate itself has this curious, almost quilted surface around the rim that feels domestic, even a little cozy. Regout, I imagine, was a thoughtful observer, turning the theater of war into something...digestible? Or maybe this was just a way to bring the outside world into the home, stirring conversation over dinner. I can imagine the conversations that this generated. I love how artists in every medium find ways to tell a story. Regout is definitely doing that here, isn’t he? He’s taking part in a centuries-long dialogue among artists and makers. Each offering up their vision, one plate, one painting, one story at a time.