Fireplace Tile c. 1936

John Dixon created this tile sometime in the 18th century. Imagine him painting this in his studio. The single color glaze of purpley-brown gives it a faded, aged feel, like an old photograph or a sepia-toned memory. I get the sense Dixon carefully plotted out his composition, framing the biblical scene within a circle, which is then neatly positioned on the square tile. The floral sprigs in the corners feel decorative, but even in a small piece like this, every mark counts, every element is there for a reason. Look how economical Dixon is with his lines, how he uses shadow to sculpt form, and create spatial depth. Fireplace tiles such as this were often produced in sets and told a story. It makes me wonder what scenes were on the other tiles? How would this single image fit into that narrative? As artists we are constantly in conversation with each other, building upon the ideas and practices that came before us and opening new possibilities for the future.