Vaas beschilderd met vissen en waterplanten c. 1915

This vase, painted with fish and water plants, was made by St. Lukas. I am struck by the way the decoration is a process of accumulation. The colours are gentle, the greens, blues and browns are applied in layers of transparent paint. The artist has used the tools in such a way as to give the sense of the water rippling around the fish. Look closely, the paint isn’t trying to trick you into believing in anything. Instead, the fish are suggested, made up of marks which become scales, eyes, fins and tails. It's like a dance between representation and abstraction. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint, another artist who wasn't afraid to embrace the unknown, to let the process guide her towards new and unexpected forms. It’s a reminder that art is not about perfection or fixed meanings, but about exploration and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.