Pa. German Plate c. 1937

Charles Garjian made this watercolour and graphite painting, Pa. German Plate, at an unknown date. The colour palette here is earthy, with a muted green dominating the plate's surface. It reminds me of folk art traditions, where the process is as much about honoring a craft as it is about pure representation. The plate itself has this wonderful handmade quality. You can almost feel the texture of the glaze and the way the artist laid down the paint, not trying to hide the imperfections but celebrating them. See how the floral motifs seem both carefully planned and spontaneously applied, giving the piece a lively, organic feel? It reminds me a little of the way Marsden Hartley played with symbolism and personal expression. It feels deeply personal. This piece is a conversation, echoing across time, about how we see, feel, and create our world.