Schilderzaal van de porseleinfabriek Rozenburg c. 1890

This photograph by Ritscher & Landsman captures the Rozenburg porcelain factory, alive with artisans immersed in their craft. The image reveals the power of mass production, of repeated motifs, but look closely: each artisan is centered around an individual piece, a singular creation. It evokes the ancient symbol of the vessel, the vase—a motif as old as civilization itself. These vessels, being painted by craftsmen, are a blank slate, an emptiness to be filled. Echoes of the classical amphora, a carrier of life, of sustenance. Consider the cyclical nature of this art form, these artists repeating the gestures of artisans from millennia ago, a continuum of creation. In each stroke, the artist channels collective memory. The act of creation becomes a ritual. This is a powerful force, deeply resonating with our subconscious, reminding us of our shared human heritage, an unbroken chain of creativity.