Plafond van Vismarkt 16-17 te Leiden 1901

This vintage photograph captures a plaster ceiling relief at Vismarkt 16-17 in Leiden. I can only imagine the hand tools used to carve it. The muted tones and shallow depth give it the feel of a lunar landscape, a satellite’s-eye view of craters and plains. Maybe the artist was thinking about the cosmos. Or perhaps the natural world? I can see something flower-like in the composition. The design has a circular, almost mandala-like symmetry. In the center, a small dark mark anchors the whole piece. It makes me think about the way we all try to find a center in our lives. The relief looks old, worn smooth over time. It's evidence of the conversation between artists and history. We are all inspired by art that came before us. It reminds me that art is not just about what we make, but what we leave behind.