Ontwerpen met plantaardige motieven voor aardewerkdecoratie Possibly 1920

Theo Colenbrander made this design for earthenware decoration in pencil, presumably around 1920, in the Netherlands. Colenbrander worked for several companies, including the Rozenburg factory in The Hague, designing ceramics that were meant to be both artistic and functional. In his role, he straddled the world of fine art and the commercial design industry, and these preliminary sketches allow us to see what that looked like. At this time, Dutch artists, architects, and designers were exploring new ways of thinking about aesthetics, and were highly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. These movements were driven by both aesthetic and social concerns. They sought to bring beauty into everyday life, and to counteract the alienation of industrial labor by reviving craft traditions. To better understand this drawing, we might look at archives from the Rozenburg factory, or consult periodicals on Dutch design from the early 20th century. What we learn through historical research can enrich our appreciation of the social role of art and design.