Al blijven wind en zee ons tegen, volharding brengt ons toch de zege 1934

This decorative plate, made in 1934 by De Porceleijne Fles, is a real exercise in seeing how much one can achieve with just one color! It's all blue and white, a classic combination. This artwork reminds me that artmaking is a process of pushing boundaries. The artist layers the blue tones to create depth. Look closely at the waves – aren’t they incredible? The artist has used a very confident brush stroke to create a sense of depth. I like the lighthouse in the background. The way the light glistens on the waves, the texture of the sails, and the sky, it all feels very alive. There's something so optimistic and reassuring in the message that ‘perseverance brings victory’. I love how this plate brings to mind the Delftware tradition while offering a message that feels universally relevant. It reminds me of some of the marine paintings of Hendrik Willem Mesdag; these kinds of images are always such an interesting back and forth through time!