Pennsylvania German Plate c. 1937

This Pennsylvania German Plate was painted by Yolande Delasser, and it's interesting because you can really see the artist working through the composition. There is something very earthy about this piece; I mean, it’s a plate. It makes me think about the brown, yellow, and green color palettes that were so popular in the '70s. The lines aren't trying to be perfect, they are casual and unforced. Look closely at the marks used to delineate the flowers, leaves, and stems of the design. Notice how the artist doesn’t outline the whole image but uses short flicks to imply form. The result is dynamic and full of energy. I’m reminded a little of the painter Forrest Bess, also a visionary who brought an outsider's perspective to his work. Delasser creates this sort of dreamlike space where the flowers float freely, unburdened by any need to be "realistic." And maybe that’s the best part: it's not about what's real, it’s about what feels true.