Pa. German Pie Plate c. 1937

This Pennsylvania German pie plate was painted by Jessica Price sometime between 1855 and 1995, and the approach to mark-making here feels so intuitive. The image features a figure on horseback, rendered with simple lines and a limited palette, mostly earth tones with a touch of green and red. Look at how the paint is applied, thin and almost translucent, allowing the surface of the plate to peek through. The lines that define the horse and rider are confident, not fussy, and they remind me that artmaking is as much about what you leave out as what you put in. The texture is smooth, inviting touch, and the colors, despite their simplicity, evoke a whole world. Check out the small details, like the rider’s hat and the decorative flourishes around the edge of the plate - each element contributes to the overall sense of folk charm. It reminds me a bit of Henri Rousseau, that kind of self-taught vision. Ultimately, this plate celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the power of simple forms to convey complex ideas.